'My girlfriend's got a very suspicious phone habit – it's giving me major red flags'

Would you care if someone saw your private messages?

For some, keeping chats hidden is a matter of principle, while others wouldn't bat an eyelid if someone scrolled through their phone.

But now, it seems one girlfriend's curious privacy habit has raised eyebrows in her relationship - and it's certainly split opinion online too. The tricky dilemma unravelled when a '26-year-old woman' took to the internet to open up about her partner's behaviour, explaining it's all about Instagram.

"I’ve noticed my girlfriend has a habit of deleting messages from her Instagram DMs," she said anonymously on Reddit. "When I asked her about it, she mentioned she does it because she doesn’t anticipate anyone checking her phone, and she prefers not to retain records of past conversations that delve into deep life struggles and frustrations with her friends."

While this may seem harmless, she said it didn't stop there. Interestingly, she's also wiped communications from ex-lovers and flings, even if they are still on good terms.

The nameless woman continued: "It’s less about privacy concerns from others accessing her phone and more about her personal preference. I’m curious – do any of you have similar habits or know someone who does this?

"Is it common to delete messages for personal reasons rather than strictly for privacy concerns? How do you interpret or understand this behaviour?"

The anonymous confession comes just three years after 'Jill', a viral TikToker, controversially claimed that anyone who deletes messages is cheating. According to a previous Mirror report, she said: "Cheating isn’t always flirting, kissing or more.

"If you’re deleting messages or you daren’t leave your phone with your partner, you go into panic mode – then you’re already there."

However, not everyone agrees with this sentiment, as various users commented on the 'Instagram DM dilemma' with reassuring words. One person said: "I delete conversations with people I have no interest in communicating with again."

Another also chimed in: "The only time I’ve deleted messages from other men while I’m in a relationship is when I have something to hide... P.S. after years of therapy, I’m proud to be living proof that yes, cheaters can change for the better."

But one user, clearly alarmed, shared three red flag emojis, quoting one specific part of the story: "Deletes messages from exes turned friends or ex-flings with whom she remains civil."

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below