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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let DH read my Instagram messages?

206 replies

Cooktop64 · 10/06/2025 05:33

Some time ago, I used DH’s phone to log into instagram, so I could look up the work of a tattoo artist mum I met at soft play. I forgot to log out, and I’ve been away for work for a while.

DH told me tonight that he had deleted the app off his phone because he felt the intense urge to snoop (not because of any sort of suspicion, but because of curiosity, which I completely understand… if I’m being honest, I read through his texts on occasion as well. To me, it just seems like we want to know each other’s inner worlds more intimately, and I love that.)

I responded “I appreciate that. I’m not sure you would have found very much interesting, other than my conversation with [school team mate and early casual sex partner] and an attempt to start a conversation with [school crush who family-zoned me, whom I kept having dreams about, for some reason, and I was trying to figure out why].”

He replied that it probably goes back pretty far, and who knows what I was up to, and that he kind of wanted to re-download the app. I told him we could read through it together when I got home, and he said “It’s probably a lot of reading, but maybe we could do that.”

I honestly don’t remember everything that’s on there. I have no way of logging in to look, as I have settings on my phone to help me manage my social media addiction that prevents me from doing so. I’m a little bit worried I may have said something negative about him to a friend or family member, or said something that might invite suspicion if I can’t provide adequate context or the correct timeline for lack of memory…

On the other hand? I think it might bring us closer, for him to see all that and know me more deeply, and it might be nice to clear out any skeletons in my closet. Maybe I revisit some not-so-nice memories from my past, with his care and support, and it would be healing for me. Maybe we find dumb things to laugh about together. And if we don’t read through it together, will he succumb to temptation and read it without any context at all, and not be able to talk to me in order to assuage negative feelings about it without admitting to snooping?

Is it dumb to go through with this? Should I rescind the offer to read through it with him, or say “fuck it” and full send it anyway?

YABU - don’t let him read it
YANBU - read it with him

OP posts:
ForZanyAquaViewer · 13/06/2025 23:24

ByMerryTiger · 13/06/2025 23:20

You are clearly unhappy. And childish. You even comment like a child. “I know you are, but what am I?” is where you’ve got to, at this point.

You are not coming out on top in any of these exchanges. Just go to bed.

Yup.

Catsandcannedbeans · 13/06/2025 23:48

If I found out my mates husband had read our chats in some kind of weird hippy dippy bonding ritual I’d be livid. I like most of friends husbands, but I don’t want them in my business. Also I would be fucking mortified if I found out my ex was going over our messages with his wife…

If you really wanna get closer go and take ayahuasca together in the mountains of Peru like normal people.

Cooktop64 · 14/06/2025 00:32

ByMerryTiger · 13/06/2025 23:20

You are clearly unhappy. And childish. You even comment like a child. “I know you are, but what am I?” is where you’ve got to, at this point.

You are not coming out on top in any of these exchanges. Just go to bed.

YoUrE CLeArLy UnHaPpy!

OP posts:
WhereHasMyPlanetGone · 14/06/2025 07:56

Cooktop64 · 14/06/2025 00:32

YoUrE CLeArLy UnHaPpy!

You really rebutted the ‘childish’ accusation there 😁

ByMerryTiger · 14/06/2025 10:09

Cooktop64 · 14/06/2025 00:32

YoUrE CLeArLy UnHaPpy!

Wow! 😂

tygertygers · 14/06/2025 10:55

I can’t imagine anything more tedious than going through my DH’s messages. And I wouldn’t because I respect his private thoughts and the relationships he has with his friends, and that sometimes he needs an outlet that doesn’t involve me. I also respect his friends too much to snoop on THEIR private thoughts, fears, and their ridiculous banter.

if I want to know what’s going on in DH’s head, I ask him. Sounds novel I know but we’ve been together more than 20 years and instagram wasn’t a thing when we got together so I couldn’t trawl through a backlog of messages.

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