Would this be illegal?

[A]

I am 19 years old and a college freshman, and my parents are coercing me into giving them my Facebook password and then looking through my messages. Every time I change the password, they coerce me into telling them the new password by threatening to transfer me to another college 12 hours from home if I don't. Just tonight, they called me to scream at me over a recent exchange with my boyfriend (which woke my sleeping roommate). I have repeatedly asked nicely to have privacy with my Facebook messages, but they still insist on having access to my Facebook. Since I am a legal adult, is it illegal of them to force me to give out my password? Why or why not?
Inda Cloud, I see two problems with your idea:

1) if I make a second account, how will I transfer all my photos and friends to make it look identical to the real account?

2) if I message people on this second account, my parents will hack my original account and notice that there are no new message exchanges. They will not see my conversations with them or my boyfriend (on the second account) and then hack my second account. Therefore, the second account will waste my time.

How do I work around those two issues?

[BILL]

You don't have to give them your password, and they don't have to pay for your college.

[tkquestion]

This is not a matter of law.

They asked you to provide your password.
You complied.

You said "coerce". As you said, you are 19. You are a legal adult. That would mean you could simply refuse anything your parents demand of you, and walk out. Of course, if you do, they will not pay for your college but that's besides the point.

So, you made a decision to provide them with your password in exchange for their support. (to pay for the college at the present location)

None of this is against the law.

That said....

Your parents are manipulating you and in worse possible way. I'd refuse to give the password, and if they threaten to move you to another college, tell them to go ahead and damage your education. I'd tell them, if they do, you will move out of the house and never speak to them again. If you have a resource to do it, it's better. This is like poker. First one blinks loses.

[Inda Cloud]

No, but they are paying for college....

Get another facebook page. Seriously. I have three, lol. Use both, but only use one at school. Give mom and dad your fb password, and post really lame stuff on the real one - my little pony lame. Make it so boring and stupid they won't WANT to read it.

You could also try doing the whole college thing on your own, too, and tell the 'rents that you love em but...

[Noah]

Yes. You're a legal adult with rights. Your parents can't make you do anything. By law you are totally independent from them.
They can, however, stop paying for your college. They can't actually switch you to a different one (that's your right), but they can choose not to pay for the one you're at.
This seems like a really complicated situation. Know your rights, and try and have a serious conversation with them.
Best of luck.

[xpatinasia]

You're an adult, and you should act as one.