Pew Study Finds Many Couples Sharing Passwords, Online Accounts

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- With Valentine's Day looming, a new study shows the major impact of technology and social media in the lives of many American couples. One of the findings shows many couples are sharing passwords and accounts with their partners.

According to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, 67 percent of Internet users who are either married or in a committed relationship have shared a password to at least one online account with their spouse or partner.

Some couples have taken the step of sharing online accounts. Pew found 27 percent have a shared email account with their partner, while 11 percent have an online calendar that they share.

People who share email accounts are likely to be older adults or people who have been in their relationship for more than 10 years. Those who share online calendars tend to be people in their mid-20s to mid-40s.

When it comes to social media such as Facebook and Twitter, the survey found 11 percent of partnered or married adults who use social networking sites have a shared profile.

Among other findings, the Pew study found 10 percent of those married and partnered said the internet had a major impact on their relationship, while another 17 percent said it had a minor impact. Among those who said it had an impact, 74 percent said the internet positively impacted their relationship, while 20 percent said it was negative.