Social Media

Have you or your teen ever been "ghosted?"

Delaney Ruston, MD
January 30, 2017

TECH TALK TUESDAY #52: HAVE YOU OR YOUR TEEN EVER BEEN "GHOSTED?"

A young man with a laptop and a shadow in the background

Have you ever heard the term “ghosting”? According to the Urban Dictionary ghosting is:

"The act of suddenly ceasing all communication with someone the subject is dating, but no longer wishes to date. ... Ghosting is not specific to a certain gender and is closely related to the subject's maturity and communication skills. .."

This happens with both teens and adults, I first heard of this practice when an adult friend told me about another friend who had simply stopped responding to emails, texts and phone calls. According to a Huffington post poll about 10 percent of Americans have "ghosted" someone to break up with them. Using avoidance as a coping skill is not new, but online communication has made that an easier way to deal with uncomfortable situations.

For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let's talk about "ghosting". :

  • Have you ever "ghosted" someone? If so, why?
  • Have you ever been "ghosted"? If so, how did it make you feel and what did you do to try to get back in touch?
  • Do you text, Snapchat, email, call or try to talk in-person to someone you want to break up with? How about a friend you want to end things with?

January 30, 2017

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

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Social Media

Have you or your teen ever been "ghosted?"

Delaney Ruston, MD
January 30, 2017

TECH TALK TUESDAY #52: HAVE YOU OR YOUR TEEN EVER BEEN "GHOSTED?"

A young man with a laptop and a shadow in the background

Have you ever heard the term “ghosting”? According to the Urban Dictionary ghosting is:

"The act of suddenly ceasing all communication with someone the subject is dating, but no longer wishes to date. ... Ghosting is not specific to a certain gender and is closely related to the subject's maturity and communication skills. .."

This happens with both teens and adults, I first heard of this practice when an adult friend told me about another friend who had simply stopped responding to emails, texts and phone calls. According to a Huffington post poll about 10 percent of Americans have "ghosted" someone to break up with them. Using avoidance as a coping skill is not new, but online communication has made that an easier way to deal with uncomfortable situations.

For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let's talk about "ghosting". :

  • Have you ever "ghosted" someone? If so, why?
  • Have you ever been "ghosted"? If so, how did it make you feel and what did you do to try to get back in touch?
  • Do you text, Snapchat, email, call or try to talk in-person to someone you want to break up with? How about a friend you want to end things with?

January 30, 2017

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

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for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.  

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