Though people have been disappearing for ages, and while Merriam-Webster found traces of the current definition of “ghosting” starting in 2006, its only been common over the last few years. A 2019 YouGov survey of U.S. adults found that 30 percent of them had ghosted a romantic partner or friend.

When did ghosting become a thing?

The term originated in the early 2000s, typically referring to dating and romantic relationships. In the following decade, media reported a rise in ghosting, which has been attributed to the increasing use of social media and online dating apps.