What is Ghosting? We explain the online phenomenon

Ghosting refers to an undesirable, but nowadays by no means rare, behavior. The term originated online, as that is where it originated. We explain the background and meaning.

Wordlessly disappearing: Ghosting means the unattractive end of interpersonal relationships.

The principle is not new, but the term is, as it was able to quickly make the rounds thanks to the Internet.

What is ghosting and how does it work?

Ghosting is the unannounced termination of contact from one side.

• According to the term, this turns a person into a "ghost", as they simply break off contact and thus disappear. This happens without any announcement or indication of reasons.
• The term was coined by the dating scene, which was digitized by apps like Tinder.
• Ghosting can take place both in the early stages of getting to know each other and significantly later. The timing does not matter for the definition, as it is solely about the behavior itself.
• Ghosting is perceived as very negative, as it is seen as dishonest or even cowardly. Often, the person who has been "ghosted", takes the descent of the other person personally; hurt feelings are not uncommon.

In principle, ghosting can also be applied to other areas of life far from dating, since this behavior is increasingly common even in the professional context, for example, after job interviews. Critics therefore see ghosting as an inglorious emblem of this age, in which relationships of all kinds are becoming increasingly fast-paced and non-committal.