Account Password Sharing in Ordinary Situations and Emergencies: A Comparison Between Young and Older Adults

Sharing account passwords with others is a prevalent yet risky practice. We explore password-sharing behaviors in ordinary situations and hypothetical emergencies, perceived security risks, and user interest in password manager features that could facilitate secure sharing. We surveyed (n=208) young adults (18-24) and older adults (65+) to see how their sharing habits differed. Our findings suggest that younger adults are more likely to share passwords in ordinary situations, but older adults are more likely to share in emergencies. Both groups expressed security concerns in ordinary situations, but less so in emergencies. The majority of people (>50\%) were interested in a password manager feature that facilitates secure account sharing, but both young and older adults were reluctant to pay a premium for it.