Cloaking is when you arrange to meet someone for a first date, but not only do they stand you up, they also block you on all apps, so you can’t even contact them to ask if they’re still coming. Photo: dpa
Have you ever been on a date that you thought went well, but soon after the other person vanishes into thin air? With no explanation or warning whatsoever?
While being ghosted is a lousy experience, that’s not even the worst that can happen when trying to meet someone these days.
Known as “cloaking”, another dating practice takes it one step further. Cloaking is when you arrange to meet someone for a first date, but not only do they stand you up, they also block you on all apps, so you can’t even contact them to ask if they’re still coming.
One in four 18- to 29-year-olds has already experienced cloaking, according to a survey of more than 1,000 respondents conducted by the Innofact opinion research institute on behalf of the Parship dating app.
Another toxic dating trend, “orbiting” is when another person breaks off all direct contact with you but continues to engage with your content on social media.
According to the study, some 14% of 18- to 69-year-olds have been “orbited” before, compared to 24% in the 18-to-29 age group.
The survey also identified another nasty dating trend. Called “phubbing”, a play on “phone” and “snubbing”, it describes someone who spends more time looking at their phone than at you while you’re on a date.
Among those aged 18 to 29, one in four people said they have experienced phubbing while on a date, according to the survey. – dpa
