More than half of Georgia residents admit they would investigate their partner’s suspicious behavior. A new survey reveals which states are most likely to snoop and why Americans are crossing privacy boundaries in relationships.
🔍 Why It Matters: Rising infidelity rates and relationship surveillance show trust issues are becoming a national problem. Understanding these patterns helps couples recognize warning signs before relationships break down.
📱 What’s Happening: Georgia leads the nation with 58% of residents saying they would investigate a suspicious partner. Alabama follows at 54% and Washington at 53%.
In Georgia, spending more time away from home and getting defensive when questioned are the biggest red flags. Two-thirds of Georgians say these behaviors would prompt them to snoop.
🔎 The Numbers Tell A Story: Women are slightly more likely than men to investigate suspicious behavior at 48% versus 47%. People aged 35 to 44 are most likely to snoop at 58%. Those 65 and older are most trusting with only 36% saying they would investigate.
One in five Americans admit to reading their partner’s texts or emails without permission. Another 17% have checked unlocked phones or social media activity.
📊 Between The Lines: The survey found 57% of Americans would investigate if their partner spent unexplained time away from home. Unexplained charges on joint accounts and defensive behavior also trigger suspicion for 56% of respondents.
Only 39% would investigate if their partner liked photos of attractive people on social media. Less than half care about secretive screen behavior.
🏆 Most Trustworthy States: South Carolina residents are least likely to snoop at just 35%. Michigan follows at 34% and New Jersey at 31%. These states show different attitudes about privacy and trust in relationships.
Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
