Been Ghosted? How to Deal With It and Move On
You were chatting, it felt good, and then nothing. Being ghosted is common in online dating and it still stings. The most important thing to know: it usually says more about them than about you.
Why people ghost
- They met someone else and don't know how to say it.
- They are overwhelmed by life, work or too many chats.
- They avoid awkward conversations in general.
- They were never fully looking for something in the first place.
Should you message again?
One short, friendly follow-up is fine: "Hey, haven't heard from you, hope all's well. Let me know if you'd still like to chat." If there's no reply, take that as your answer. Several follow-ups rarely help and can leave you feeling worse.
Don't make it your story
It is tempting to replay every message looking for the mistake. Usually there isn't one. People ghost after great conversations too. Talk it over with a friend, then put your energy back into people who respond.
Keep a few conversations going
Early on, it's healthy to chat with more than one person until something becomes serious. It keeps one disappearing act from feeling like the end of the world.
Don't ghost others
If you're not feeling it, a short honest message is kind and takes ten seconds: "I've enjoyed chatting, but I don't think we're a match. Wishing you the best." On Nexelife, you can also end a chat politely with Unmatch, which closes it for both of you.