Ghosting is a trend that many have experienced, whether or not they realize it. The new term is used to describe a situation in a relationship where one of the parties slowly cut off communication from the other.

This act has definitely been around for a while, but it wasn’t until the rise of popular social media and dating apps like Tinder and Hot or Not did it get its name.

Freshmen Jada Kaiser and Ashlyn Luetters and sophomore Sydney Davis have experienced the worst side of ghosting – the side that gets ignored.

“The guy I was talking to thought I was his cousin’s girlfriend,” Kaiser said. “He decided he wanted to start talking to me, but when he found out that I wasn’t his cousin’s girlfriend, he blocked me on everything. We were talking for two weeks before he dropped me.”

Luetters had a similar experience.

“It happened to me in November,” Luetters said. “I think it happened because we were too far away, and we were talking for three weeks before he ghosted me.”

Davis said being ghosted left her confused and unhappy.

“I didn’t know why it was happening to me,” Davis said. “I didn’t think I deserved it.”

Luetters said that her ghosting experience left her feeling ugly and unimportant.

“I mean, why else would they just stop talking to you?” Leutters said. “I wish they could’ve at least said something. Like, yes it would’ve hurt, but at least I’d know.”

After being ghosted, Kaiser said her self-confidence was completely diminished.

“I’ll never understand why it happened to me,” Kaiser said. “It really hurt my feelings. I lost my trust in a lot of guys after it happened.”

On the flip side, a multitude of students have been the “ghoster” instead of the “ghostee.”

Junior Emilee Pfannenstiel said she has participated in the act of ghosting, but for good reasoning.

“He kept sending me weird things and he wouldn’t leave me alone,” Pfannenstiel said. “I just blocked him.”

Sophomore Zoe A Martin has also been a ghoster.

“The person creeped me out, so I think it’s ok that I did this,” Martin said. “Whenever I’d say goodbye to him he would continue to talk to me, so I blocked him.”

Fortunately, there are a few students who haven’t had to experience this.

“I don’t usually talk to people that I don’t personally know,” freshman Kenna Pfannenstiel said. “Because of that, I’ve never had to experience ghosting.”

Senior Ryan Fort also chooses not to be involved with ghosting.

“I’m not a selfish person,” Fort said. “I wouldn’t do something like that.”

Luetters, Kaiser and Davis agree that communication is key if you want to avoid being ghosted, or ghosting someone else.

“It’s not good for any type of relationship,” Davis said. “It’s just a good idea to explain your feelings instead of hurting someone worse by cutting them off.”