The term has also expanded to refer to similar practices among friends, family members, employers and businesses.
[11] The term is used in the context of online exchanges,[12] and became popular by 2015 through many articles on high-profile celebrity relationship dissolutions,[13][14] and went on to be widely used.
Additionally, according to psychologist Kelsey M. Latimer, people who ghost in relationships are more likely to have personality traits and behaviors that are self-centered, avoidant, and manipulative.
Additionally, the lack of social cues along with the ambiguity in ghosting can cause a form of emotional dysregulation in which a person feels out of control.
[23] A 2024 study found that ghosting, while often perceived as a lack of care, is frequently motivated by prosocial intentions, with ghosters aiming to avoid causing direct emotional pain.
[28] Employers create ghost job posting to gauge the market and have a readily available talent pool when they are ready to hire.
[29][30][31] While "ghosting" refers to "disappearing from a special someone's life mysteriously and without explanation",[32] numerous similar behaviors have been identified, that include various degrees of continued connection with a target.
The term was coined by Mashable journalist Rachel Thompson after she was stood up for a date by a Hinge match and blocked on all apps.
They may even interact with the abandoned one, but in a very superficial way, such as liking their posts or viewing their stories, but not replying to any direct message or taking their calls.