Here’s my take on this.
I can see both sides of the argument when phone habits suddenly change. On an Android S22, some digital signs you might look for are changes in app usage. Check the “Digital Wellbeing” or “Battery usage by app” sections in Settings. A sudden spike in screen time for a specific messaging app could be a data point. Also, look for the appearance of new apps designed for privacy, like secure folders or new messaging platforms.
However, these signs aren’t definitive proof of anything on their own. Increased privacy could also be related to planning a surprise, talking with a friend about a sensitive topic, or simply a desire for more personal space. The key is to see these as shifts from a baseline rather than immediate red flags. It’s about understanding the complete picture of the behavior.