There’s a difference between respecting someone’s house and having no say over your own personal information, and one teenager just learned that distinction the hard way.

Living with her overprotective uncle for over two years, she’d grown used to keeping her opinions to herself to avoid losing privileges, but a simple ask, “don’t watch me type my password,” seemed reasonable enough.

But her uncle responded with implication and irritation, framing the request as some kind of insult to his authority in his own home. Her parents, watching the whole exchange over video call, sided with him instantly.

That’s when what should’ve been a two second moment turned into a lecture about entitlement and secrets.

Keep reading for the full story.

AITAH for NOT wanting a parental figure to know my privacy information.

I was sent to Australia by my parents and have been living with my uncle for two and a half years now.

We have a turbulent relationship and would fight a lot, though coming from a strict household,

I always have to keep my mouth shut, or privileges will be taken away from me. In a way he does care about me, but also kinda dislikes me and my brother, who also went through the same situation.

She gives just one example of his uncle’s lack of boundaries.

That’s just a small insight, but today, when my dad brought my old iPad back to my hometown for my mom to use, they video called me to ask for my iPad passcode.

In the meantime I thought I’d get them set up with their own account so they don’t have to be overcharged for a device reset and account setup.

The teen tries to set boundaries with her uncle, but the uncle wasn’t having it.

When texting my Apple ID password to them, my uncle was beside my shoulder looking at my mom. I’m pretty sure he had no intent of looking at what I’m typing, but it felt invasive for me, so I politely asked him to not look while I type.

He went off on me, passive aggressively at that. He said, “If I WANT your password, you would give it to me when I DO ask,” implying as if he has rights over me?

Her uncle doesn’t seem to believe she’s entitled to any privacy at all.

He also mentioned he hated when I talk about privacy rights in the house, since it IS his house, but you know, some respected privacy now and then would be nice.

He went on saying, “You think I care a lot about your life? So ridiculous,” and more passive aggressive comments because I asked him to not look while I type. He kept going, along with my parents backing his claim.

Now three adults going at me for a standard I must’ve not learned growing up? I felt it was perfectly fine to ask for something like that.

Her uncle also accuses her of hiding something.

He also said I must be having secrets on my device if I made that comment, and I told him honestly that I use that password for almost EVERY website/account, so someone knowing might just ruin everything.

I’m just wondering, is this something that I stepped over the line?

If so, please let me know etiquette that everyone knows and I will try to incorporate in my beliefs.

Her uncle definitely doesn’t sound like he runs the most welcoming household.

What did Reddit have to say?

This user recommends making her password is as secure as possible.

This parent believes teenagers are entitled to some degree of privacy.

If her uncle is trying to look after her, he’s not going about it the right way.

This commenter insinuates that this teen just isn’t trying hard enough to keep her devices secure.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a girl who thinks her family is doing too much in criticizing the tidiness in her small space.

The real issue in this story has nothing to do with etiquette and everything to do with power.

This teenager made a small, sensible ask, and got met with a chorus of adults treating her like the one who’d overstepped.

Her uncle’s argument, that it’s his house so privacy doesn’t apply, might explain his rules about spending or curfews, but it doesn’t really hold up when the request is simply “don’t watch me type a password.”

She wasn’t disrespecting anyone, she was just trying to keep one small thing to herself.