Am I Being Ghosted?
AI-Powered Text Analysis That Reveals the Truth
They used to reply within minutes. Now it's been days. Their messages went from paragraphs to one-word responses. You're left wondering: am I being ghosted, or are they just busy? AI-powered text analysis can reveal the objective truth hidden in your conversation patterns.
You check your phone for the tenth time today. Still nothing. The last time you heard from them was three days ago—a single "haha" in response to your thoughtful message. Your mind races: Are they ghosting me? Did I do something wrong? Or are they genuinely busy with work, family, or life stress?
Ghosting—the sudden cessation of all communication without explanation—has become one of the most painful phenomena in modern dating. According to research published in Psychology Today, between 25% and 65% of people report having been ghosted by a romantic partner. The ambiguity it creates can be emotionally devastating, leaving you questioning your worth and replaying every interaction.
But what if you didn't have to wonder? What if you could use AI-powered text analysis to objectively identify ghosting patterns in your conversations? By analyzing response times, message length, engagement metrics, and emotional tone, you can distinguish between genuine ghosting and temporary distance—and finally get the clarity you deserve.
What Is Ghosting? Understanding the Modern Dating Phenomenon
Ghosting occurs when someone you've been communicating with suddenly cuts off all contact without explanation, warning, or closure. They stop responding to texts, don't return calls, and may even block you on social media—all while leaving you in a state of confusion and self-doubt.
Unlike a clear breakup conversation or even a gradual fading of interest, ghosting is characterized by its abruptness and complete lack of communication. The person essentially disappears from your life as if the relationship never existed.
Defining Characteristics of Ghosting
- Sudden cessation: Communication stops abruptly without gradual decline
- No explanation: The person offers no reason for their disappearance
- Complete silence: All attempts to reach them go unanswered
- Ambiguity: You're left uncertain whether it's over or they'll resurface
- One-sided ending: The relationship ends without mutual agreement or closure
The Psychology Behind Ghosting: Why People Disappear
Understanding why people ghost can help you recognize that it's rarely about your worth or actions. Research in relationship psychology reveals several key motivations behind ghosting behavior:
Conflict Avoidance
Many people ghost because they fear confrontation and difficult conversations. They believe disappearing is "easier" than having an honest breakup discussion.
- • Discomfort with emotional vulnerability
- • Fear of the other person's reaction
- • Lack of skills for difficult conversations
- • Belief that silence is "kinder" than rejection
Low Investment & Commitment Issues
When someone wasn't deeply invested in the relationship, they may feel less obligation to provide closure or explanation.
- • Viewing the connection as casual/disposable
- • Fear of commitment or intimacy
- • Already pursuing other options
- • Never saw it as a "real" relationship
Technology Enables Avoidance
Digital communication makes ghosting easier than ever. Without face-to-face interaction, people can disappear with minimal emotional discomfort.
- • Physical distance reduces accountability
- • Block/mute features enable complete avoidance
- • Abundance of dating options reduces consequences
- • Normalized by dating app culture
Emotional Immaturity
Some people ghost because they lack the emotional intelligence to handle relationship endings appropriately.
- • Inability to process their own feelings
- • Lack of empathy for others' emotions
- • Poor communication skills
- • Prioritizing their comfort over your closure
10 Text Patterns That Reveal You're Being Ghosted
AI-powered chat analysis can detect specific patterns that distinguish ghosting from other forms of reduced communication. Here are the 10 most reliable indicators:
1. Dramatic Increase in Response Time
The most telling sign of ghosting is a sudden, dramatic shift in response patterns. Someone who used to reply within minutes now takes days—or never responds at all.
Typical Pattern:
- • Previous average: 5-15 minute replies
- • Current average: 24+ hours or no response
- • No explanation for the change
- • Pattern consistent across multiple messages
vs. Genuinely Busy:
- • Explains delays ("Crazy week at work")
- • Still initiates some conversations
- • Responses may be slower but still engaged
- • Temporary pattern with eventual return to normal
2. Shrinking Message Length
When someone is ghosting you, their messages become progressively shorter and less substantive. Paragraphs become sentences, sentences become words.
"The progression from thoughtful responses to one-word replies like 'ok,' 'yeah,' or 'haha' is one of the clearest indicators of emotional withdrawal in digital communication."— Research on text messaging patterns in relationships
AI Detection Metrics:
- • Average message length dropped by 70%+ from baseline
- • Increased frequency of single-word responses
- • Elimination of personal details or emotions
- • Shift from questions/engagement to acknowledgments
3. Complete Stop in Conversation Initiation
One of the most definitive signs: they never reach out first anymore. All communication is now reactive (if it exists at all) rather than proactive.
MosaicChats' chat analysis can track who initiates conversations and reveal dramatic shifts in initiation patterns that signal emotional withdrawal.
Ghosting Pattern:
Week 1-4: They initiated 45% of conversations
Week 5-6: They initiated 10% of conversations
Week 7+: They initiated 0% of conversations
Losing Interest (Not Ghosting):
Week 1-4: They initiated 45% of conversations
Week 5-6: They initiated 25% of conversations
Week 7+: They still occasionally reach out first
4. Read Receipts Show They're Seeing (But Ignoring) Your Messages
Perhaps the most painful indicator: you can see they've read your messages, but they choose not to respond. This isn't forgetting—it's deliberate silence.
According to dating psychology research, when read receipts show consistent viewing without response over multiple messages (3+), the person has made a conscious decision not to engage.
Red Flag Threshold: If someone reads 5+ of your messages without responding, and this pattern continues for more than a week, you're likely being ghosted. Someone genuinely busy would typically acknowledge your messages ("Sorry, swamped this week, will catch up soon!") rather than reading and ignoring.
5. No Attempts to Make or Keep Plans
When you suggest meeting up, they respond with vague "maybe" or "we'll see" answers, never committing to specific dates. And if plans were made, they cancel or simply don't show up.
This pattern often overlaps with breadcrumbing behavior, where someone keeps you interested with minimal effort while never actually planning to meet.
Typical Ghosting Conversation:
You: "Want to grab dinner this weekend?"
Them: "Maybe, I'll let you know" [never follows up]
You: "How about Thursday?"
Them: "I'm pretty busy this week"
You: "What about next week?"
Them: [Read but no response]
6. Shift to Impersonal, Generic Responses
Their messages become emotionally flat and generic, lacking the personal touch that characterized earlier conversations. No more inside jokes, pet names, or references to shared experiences.
Before (Engaged):
"OMG that reminds me of when we went to that terrible sushi place 😂 Remember how the waiter dropped your drink? We need to find a better spot soon!"
After (Ghosting):
"Yeah"
"lol"
"That's cool"
7. Disappearing Emotional Expression
AI sentiment analysis can track emotional tone over time. Ghosting is often preceded by a dramatic drop in positive emotional expression—fewer compliments, less enthusiasm, elimination of romantic language.
MosaicChats' sentiment tracking can visualize this emotional withdrawal, showing you exactly when the warmth disappeared from your conversations.
AI-Detected Indicators:
- • Elimination of heart emojis, kiss emojis, or affectionate symbols
- • Removal of terms of endearment ("babe," "sweetie," etc.)
- • Decrease in exclamation points and enthusiastic language
- • Shift from "we/us" language to "I/me" language
- • No more future planning or "looking forward to" statements
8. Active on Social Media, Silent with You
They claim they're "too busy" to text back, but their social media shows constant activity—posting stories, liking others' content, clearly using their phone regularly.
This discrepancy between their availability for social media versus their unavailability for you reveals that time isn't the issue—prioritization is.
Reality Check: If someone has time to scroll Instagram for 30 minutes, they have time to send a 10-second text. When they say "I've been so busy," what they really mean is "I haven't made you a priority."
9. Avoiding Deeper Conversations or Vulnerability
When you try to have a meaningful conversation about the relationship, your feelings, or even just deeper topics, they deflect, change the subject, or go silent.
This avoidance of emotional intimacy signals they're already emotionally checked out but haven't formally ended things.
Common Deflection Patterns:
- You bring up the relationship → They change the topic
- You express how you feel → They respond with emojis or jokes
- You ask "Are we okay?" → They say "Yeah, why?" but never elaborate
- You want to talk about issues → They suddenly "have to go"
10. The Gradual Fade Until Complete Silence
The final pattern: responses become progressively less frequent until they stop entirely. It's not a sudden cutoff but a slow fade into nothingness.
AI chat analysis can track this progression, showing you the timeline from engaged partner to complete ghosting.
Typical Ghosting Timeline:
- • Week 1: Replies within hours, still engaged
- • Week 2: Replies once per day, shorter messages
- • Week 3: Replies every 2-3 days, minimal effort
- • Week 4: Maybe one or two short replies
- • Week 5+: Complete silence, no explanation
Ghosting vs. Losing Interest: Understanding the Critical Difference
Not all reduced communication is ghosting. It's crucial to understand the difference between someone who's ghosting you and someone who's gradually losing interest but handling it more maturely.
Ghosting Behavior
- • Abrupt, unexplained communication shutdown
- • No acknowledgment of your attempts to reach them
- • May block or unfriend you on social media
- • Completely avoids any explanation or closure
- • Creates ambiguity and confusion about status
- • Demonstrates lack of respect for your feelings
Respectful Communication Decline
- • Gradual decrease in communication with explanations
- • Honest about changing feelings when asked
- • May initiate "the talk" about where things are going
- • Provides some form of closure, even if difficult
- • Acknowledges your messages even if brief
- • Shows basic respect for the relationship
"The key difference is communication and respect. Someone losing interest might pull back, but they typically acknowledge your existence. Someone ghosting you treats you as if you never mattered."— Relationship Psychology Research
Ghosting vs. Being Legitimately Busy: How to Tell the Difference
One of the most common questions: "Are they ghosting me, or are they just genuinely busy?" Here's how to distinguish between the two:
Signs They're Actually Busy (Not Ghosting)
Signs They're Ghosting (Not Just Busy)
How AI Can Objectively Detect Ghosting Patterns
One of the biggest challenges with ghosting is the emotional ambiguity—you're left second-guessing yourself and wondering if you're overreacting. AI-powered chat analysis removes the guesswork by providing objective data about your communication patterns.
MosaicChats' advanced analysis tools can help you understand exactly what's happening in your conversations by tracking measurable patterns over time.
Response Time Analysis
AI tracks average response times over weeks and months, identifying dramatic shifts that indicate ghosting behavior.
- • Historical response time patterns
- • Sudden changes in reply speed
- • Comparison to baseline behavior
- • Statistical significance of changes
Sentiment Tracking
Sentiment analysis reveals emotional withdrawal before ghosting becomes obvious.
- • Emotional tone over time
- • Decrease in positive expressions
- • Shift from warm to neutral/cold
- • Loss of intimacy indicators
Engagement Metrics
Track who initiates conversations, message length, and engagement quality.
- • Initiation ratio (who starts chats)
- • Average message length trends
- • Question frequency (shows interest)
- • Conversation sustainability
What to Do If You're Being Ghosted: A Practical Guide
Once you've confirmed through AI analysis or pattern recognition that you're being ghosted, here's how to handle it with dignity:
1. Send One Final, Direct Message
Give them one clear opportunity to respond. Be direct but not accusatory:
"Hey, I've noticed our communication has changed a lot lately. If you're no longer interested in staying in touch, I understand—I'd just appreciate knowing so I can move forward. Either way, hope you're doing well."
2. Don't Keep Chasing
After your final message, stop reaching out. Multiple messages make you feel worse and won't change their behavior. Their silence IS your answer. Continuing to message someone who's ghosting you only prolongs your pain and damages your self-respect.
3. Resist the Urge to Demand Explanations
You deserve closure, but you can't force someone to give it to you. Demanding explanations, sending angry messages, or trying to make them feel guilty rarely provides the satisfaction you seek—and often makes you feel worse.
4. Create Your Own Closure
Since they won't provide closure, you need to create it yourself:
- • Accept that their behavior reflects THEIR character, not your worth
- • Recognize that anyone who ghosts you isn't right for you
- • Journal about your feelings to process the experience
- • Talk to trusted friends who can provide perspective
- • Consider this a bullet dodged—you avoided someone who lacks emotional maturity
5. Block or Mute If Necessary
If checking their social media or waiting for their reply is causing you anxiety, block or mute them. Protect your mental health. They made their choice; now make yours. Removing the temptation to check if they've responded helps you move forward.
6. Focus on Your Own Healing
Ghosting can trigger feelings of rejection, abandonment, and self-doubt. Address these emotions head-on:
- • Remind yourself that ghosting is about their inability to communicate, not your worthiness
- • Practice self-compassion rather than self-blame
- • Reconnect with friends, hobbies, and activities you enjoy
- • Consider speaking with a therapist if the ghosting triggered deeper wounds
- • Use the experience to refine what you want in future relationships
Using MosaicChats to Detect Ghosting Patterns Early
The sooner you recognize ghosting patterns, the less emotional investment you waste on someone who's already checked out. MosaicChats' AI-powered chat analysis gives you objective data about your relationship dynamics before the ghosting becomes obvious.
How MosaicChats Helps You Recognize Ghosting
Conversation Pattern Analysis
- • Track response time trends over weeks and months
- • Identify sudden shifts in communication frequency
- • Measure message length and engagement quality
- • See who initiates conversations and how that's changing
- • Get alerts when patterns dramatically shift
Emotional Intelligence Insights
- • Sentiment analysis tracking emotional tone changes
- • Detection of emotional withdrawal before complete ghosting
- • Compatibility scoring that reveals growing distance
- • Objective data to validate or challenge your concerns
- • Clear visualization of relationship trajectory
Protecting Yourself from Future Ghosting
While you can't completely prevent ghosting (it's ultimately about the other person's character), you can make smarter choices about who you invest your time and emotions in:
Early Warning Signs to Watch For
- • Inconsistent communication from the start
- • Hot-and-cold behavior (intense, then distant)
- • Avoidance of vulnerability or deeper conversations
- • Reluctance to make concrete plans
- • History of ghosting others (they'll tell on themselves)
- • Keeping you at arm's length emotionally
Healthy Relationship Indicators
- • Consistent communication patterns
- • Mutual effort in maintaining contact
- • Open discussions about feelings and relationship status
- • Follow-through on plans and commitments
- • Willingness to address conflicts directly
- • Growing emotional intimacy over time
"The best protection against ghosting is investing your energy in people who demonstrate through consistent actions—not just words—that they value you and the relationship."— Modern Relationship Psychology
Finding Clarity in the Ambiguity of Ghosting
Being ghosted is one of the most emotionally confusing experiences in modern dating. The lack of closure, the self-doubt, the wondering what you did wrong—it can haunt you long after the person disappeared.
But here's the truth: you didn't do anything wrong. Ghosting is a reflection of the other person's emotional immaturity, conflict avoidance, or lack of respect—not your worthiness of love and communication.
AI-powered text analysis through tools like MosaicChats can't prevent ghosting, but it can give you objective clarity. Instead of spending weeks wondering if you're overreacting, you can see the patterns in black and white: response times increasing, emotional engagement decreasing, initiation dropping to zero. The data validates what your gut already knows.
More importantly, early detection of ghosting patterns means you can protect your emotional energy. You can stop investing in someone who's already checked out. You can move forward with clarity rather than clinging to false hope.
Remember: anyone who has the emotional capacity for a real relationship will communicate with you, even when it's difficult. Someone who truly values you won't leave you wondering. And if they do ghost you? That's valuable information about who they are—and confirmation that they weren't the right person for you anyway.
Stop Wondering. Get Objective Answers.
Upload your chat conversations to MosaicChats and let AI reveal the truth about your relationship dynamics. Track response times, analyze sentiment changes, measure engagement patterns, and see exactly what's happening in your conversations—no more guesswork.
Related Research
References & Sources
- "The Psychology of Ghosting." Psychology Today, 2024.Source
- Freedman, G., Powell, D. N., Le, B., & Williams, K. D. (2019). "Ghosting and destiny: Implicit theories of relationships predict beliefs about ghosting." Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(3), 905-924.
- LeFebvre, L. E. (2017). "Ghosting as a relationship dissolution strategy in the technological age." In N. Punyanunt-Carter & J. S. Wrench (Eds.), The Impact of Social Media in Modern Romantic Relationships (pp. 219-235). Lexington Books.
- Navarro, R., Larrañaga, E., Yubero, S., & Víllora, B. (2020). "Ghosting and breadcrumbing: Prevalence and relationships with online dating behaviors among young adults."Writings on Education, 19(2), 67-86.