Why do some couples share a single Facebook account, and why does it seem to irritate so many others?

Cheesy couple names like "JeffnKimmy" aren't just confined to vanity plates anymore. You’ll often find them on joint Facebook accounts — one profile for two people, instead of having separate ones. It might feel like a symbol of their closeness, but it often triggers plenty of "dislikes" from their friends.

"Most people (myself included) can't stand shared Facebook accounts," says Rachael Nicol, an online marketing expert from Atlanta, via email. "The issue is, you never know who you're actually communicating with on a 'couple' page." Ashley Procacci, a doula and owner of Orange Blossom Birth Services in Merritt Island, Florida, agrees. "I dislike it because when I need to message that person, I have no idea which one will reply. I’ve even started ignoring people who have joint accounts. It’s frustrating."

So, why do some couples choose this route? Why not have separate accounts instead of sharing one? Erika Taylor Montgomery, CEO of Three Girls Media, Inc. in San Francisco, offers insight: "Some couples might want to project a united front and show that they are close enough to share a social media account. Or perhaps one partner is less active online and decides, 'I don’t post much, so I’ll just use your page.'"

Couples whose relationships began before the rise of social media may be more inclined to share a Facebook account, according to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist based in New York City. She explains via email, "These couples tend to have a strong foundation of trust and security in their relationship, which allows them to openly share their social media accounts. This can be seen by others as merging their online identities, preventing any unsolicited romantic advances." As Nichol adds, "It's hard to approach your old high school girlfriend on Facebook when you share a page with your wife."

The idea of fidelity often comes up when outsiders observe a shared account. "Most people are probably thinking, 'I wonder which one cheated?'" comments Elizabeth Norris, a sales representative from Decatur, Georgia.

A joint account can initially reduce jealousy (and trolling), according to mental health expert Lynette Louise. However, it often doesn't last. "While it may lower stress at first, it can quickly increase jealousy, especially in someone prone to it, as their need to control grows stronger," she explains.

For some, shared accounts aren't about being overly attached or distrustful but are for more practical reasons. Laurie Taddonio, owner of LMT Consulting in Aliso Viejo, California, shares examples of people she knows with joint accounts. "One is a celebrity who shares an account under his wife’s name," she notes in an email. "Another is a federal agent who can’t have her own account, so she uses her husband’s. My elderly uncle and aunt share one because she doesn't know how to use a computer."

It’s difficult to determine how many couples have joint accounts and the reasons behind it, as Facebook's policy actually prohibits them. (Some users try to circumvent this by creating profile names like "ChadElise Jones" or "The Bradfords.") However, Facebook does permit joint pages for business purposes, such as promoting a company, though these are not meant for personal content.

Despite Facebook's best efforts, some couples will continue to share accounts, and others will still find it frustrating. "You can be in a perfect relationship, but you still need to be your own person and express yourself the way you would offline," says Richard Harmer, director of communication strategies at Ardent Creative, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas. "You don’t see people walking around speaking for their spouse half the time, so why would you want that online?"