Ghosting. Possibly the most infamous dating term of our generation and definitely not one we should be proud of. You talk to someone for a while, maybe even date them, and then poof, they completely disappear.
No explanation, no goodbye, just silence. What’s worse is how normal this behaviour has become.
“We’ve collectively decided that it’s acceptable to vanish whenever we please, without considering the person on the other side. But the truth is, it isn’t normal. It’s rude. And it’s cowardly,” says Shahzeen Shivdasani, Author and Relationship Writer, The League.
If you’re no longer interested in someone, is it really that hard to send an adult message saying you don’t see this progressing romantically and are choosing to step back? We live in a generation that wants intimacy but often has no idea how to offer real intimacy. And real intimacy, unfortunately for many requires honesty.
Here’s the real dilemma, and the crux of the problem: ghosting happens because we’ve started treating people as replaceable. We don’t value connection the way we used to. “We live in an era of more options, better options, keep it moving and yet everyone is single and complaining about how exhausting dating has become. If we actually took the time to get to know someone instead of disappearing at the first sign of discomfort or one imperfect red flag, maybe dating wouldn’t feel so draining,” adds Shivdasani.
So what do we need?
We need spaces that encourage intentional dating, spaces that don’t reward distraction but reward presence. We need platforms that remove the illusion of endless choice and instead push you to focus on what’s in front of you. And we need a dating culture where people don’t feel like they’re gambling with their time and emotions every time they meet someone new.
“This is where The League, which recently launched in India, feels like a shift in the right direction. Not because it promises perfection, but because it brings back something modern dating has been missing: structure. With a limited number of options each day and a strong vetting process, the app moves away from mindless scrolling and towards meaningful conversation. You’re not just matching more, you’re engaging better,” believes Shivdasani.
And maybe that’s the point. Dating doesn’t need more excitement. It needs more intention. Because the opposite of ghosting isn’t a grand romantic gesture.
It’s clarity, the kind that doesn’t confuse you, drain you, or keep you waiting for a reply that never comes. Because the truth is, most of us aren’t asking for perfection. We’re asking for presence. For effort. For someone who can be honest even when it’s uncomfortable.
Ghosting is out. Clarity is in. And maybe that’s the new romance: being brave enough to be clear.
