For several years, my wife and I shared a laptop, taking turns wandering around the web or doing other digital duties.
I can't believe how we coped with only one device as now I don't like anyone using my laptop.
It's not that I've got anything to hide - my wife knows all my passwords and access codes and can get on my phone or computer anytime.
I also don't worry about her potentially messing up anything as everything that is important is backed up.
I think it's because a device can contain a collection of our ideas and thoughts which sometimes you don't want people rumbling through.
Your "whole life" can fit on a device - photos, videos, bookmarks and documents - nearly everything that can be in a digital format can be there.
It's almost like it's an extension of my brain and I prefer to be able to choose what to share what's inside when it suits me.
Maybe it's also because we are more attached to them as we spend a lot more time with our phones and laptops - curled up in bed or on the couch for hours, cradling them like a soft toy.
It goes the other way too. I'm uncomfortable using someone else's device as I feel as though I'm intruding - almost like looking through someone's house while they aren't there.
If my wife gets a message on her phone, I don't look at it, I just hand it over for her to read. She'll tell me if it's something I need to know.
If I use a friend's phone to look at a photo - I take a quick look and hand it back in case I inadvertently get a glimpse into "their brain".
Our digital devices are becoming an extension of ourselves and we need to tread carefully when handling other people's computers or phones.
This also includes your children if they have one. You need to be able to access their devices but you also need to ask first - it's like bursting into a teenager's room without knocking.
Digital etiquette is an evolving world so if you do use someone else's device, be careful and treat it and its content with respect.
Source: Stuff NZ
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