How To Tell When Someone's Ghosting You

Ghosting (the opposite of paperclipping) has become such a normal thing with today's generation that being ignored and left on read are common experiences. In fact, a 2016 survey found that 80 percent of millennials have been ghosted. 

To understand if you're being ghosted, we first have to look at what ghosting means. It's essentially when someone who you've been texting with and have gone on a few dates with decides to bail on you and never talk to you again. However, this is only communicated to you by ignoring texts, never responding, flaking on dates, and basically disappearing.

It can be awkward, infuriating, and downright immature. Here are a few signs to look out for if you're worried you're being ghosted. 

Simply not responding to messages or texts is a way to passively aggressively break up a blossoming relationship, and it can be hard to predict that happening — but early warning signs do exist. Some simple signs to look out for are one-word texts, increased emojis to avoid conversation, read messages without a response, a decrease in PDA, and canceling plans (via Fashion Beans). Isn't it amazing how dating has changed in the last 100 years?

If they haven't texted you in a few hours, this isn't ghosting. People are busy, so practice your patience. But if plans fall through multiple times or days have gone by with radio silence, you're probably be ghosted. Sometimes ghosters will text here and there — their interactions becoming more and more infrequent by the day — and then ultimately leave you on read forever (via Your Tango). 

While the ghosting phenomenon isn't necessarily new, the digital age has made it easier to tell when it's happening to you. But that doesn't mean it hurts any less. The avoidance of a grown-up conversation about the end of a relationship, no matter how casual, leaves a lot of unanswered questions, and you're often left with no sense of closure or understanding why your new beau decided to jump ship.

If you are ghosted, it's important is that you not blame yourself, don't send the ghoster frantic messages, and be grateful you dodged a bullet. After all, anyone who feels like ignoring someone is the way out would be a disaster in a long-term committed relationship (via Bustle).