The most 'suspicious' phone behaviours while in a relationship as 10% of break ups down to technology
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many people are taking a closer look at their relationships. But in an age where we rely so heavily on our phones, should we also be questioning how they impact our love lives?
New research from mobile phone experts Compare and Recycle has revealed the surprising ways our devices may be damaging our relationships.
The topic of digital cheating is sparking widespread discussion, with over 50,000 conversations on Reddit exploring the issue of online infidelity and love in the digital age. With two-thirds of Brits viewing online cheating as just as devastating as physical infidelity, many relationships are being put to the test.
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In light of this, Compare and Recycle surveyed 2,000 UK adults to uncover their experiences with online cheating and the digital red flags they watch out for when they suspect a partner of being unfaithful.
Trust can take many forms in a relationship, but certain behaviours raise alarm bells, especially when it comes to mobile phones.
According to new research, the most suspicious behaviour in a partner is secretly having two phones, with 59% of Brits seeing it as a major red flag. This is followed by defensiveness over phone access (50%) and regularly deleting message histories (44%). These concerns highlight growing anxieties about how technology enables secretive behaviour.
With one in ten relationships ending due to suspicious phone activity, many are on high alert for digital warning signs, long before infidelity turns physical.
The ten most suspicious phone behaviours when in a relationship
Has two phones and you had no idea (59%)
Gets defensive if you ask to borrow their phone (50%)
Deletes messages and call history (44%)
Doesn’t let their phone out of their sight (39%)
Refuses to add you on social media (33%)
Has a heart emoji next to a contact’s name (36%)
Has their phone constantly going off (30%)
Using password-protected apps (29%)
Always keeps their phone face down (26%)
Keeps their phone on aeroplane mode around you (25%)
The survey revealed that 18 per cent of adults have caught their partner engaged in a digital affair, with 59 per cent of those relationships ultimately ending in breakups. While some online behaviours might seem innocent, others can signal secrecy and deception within a relationship.
To help navigate trust in the digital age, Compare and Recycle spoke to accredited counsellor Rebecca Partridge, who shared valuable tips on how couples can maintain trust in the face of online temptations.
She said: “In maintaining trust around social media and messaging apps, it is beneficial for couples to define what digital infidelity means, thereby setting boundaries of what they expect within the relationship. Communication and ownership of behaviour is also useful.”
Have an open conversation about what online behaviours you both consider acceptable.
Prioritise transparency over snooping and directly discuss any concerns, as phone-checking often stems from insecurity rather than actual wrongdoing.
Privacy is still important, so understand the difference between maintaining personal space and engaging in secretive behaviour that undermines trust.
Be mindful of how your digital interactions impact your partner.
