“Slow-Fading” Is The New Dating Trend You Never Saw It Coming (2024)

FAQs

What is slow fading in dating? ›

The slow fade is a term used in dating when a person gradually reduces communication and involvement with someone they were once romantically interested in. This can lead the other person to feel confused, as the person doing the slow fade doesn't directly break up with them, but rather slowly drifts away.

It really depends on why the guy has pulled the slow fade. If he did it to see if the grass was greener with someone else, but ended up regretting that choice he may come crawling back. Other reasons to return might be general doubts about his reasons for ending the relationship or feeling of guilt around it.

In a slow fade, the person on the receiving end is being gaslit, questioning themselves about what they did wrong and what they can do to fix the relationship. Ghosting is final. Slow fading is filled with uncertainty, which is why it can be torturous. It can be harmful to self-esteem.

The slow fade is not the same as “ghosting."

Ghosting is when someone simply stops communicating without warning, never to be heard from again. The slow fade is a gradual process of disengagement. It's peeling back the band-aid rather than ripping it off.

“Soft ghosting” refers to a behavior where one person gradually reduces their level of communication or interaction with another person without fully cutting off contact. Unlike traditional ghosting where all contact abruptly stops, soft ghosting involves a more gradual and subtle reduction in communication.

If something feels off, I'd rather address it head-on. Calling out the distance and discussing feelings early on can clarify a lot! I would use my Slow Fade dating script for this one: “hey! I've been noticing some distance between us and am curious if you've felt the same.

“When someone is falling out of love, they may become emotionally distant, avoid physical intimacy, stop expressing affection, or appear detached and unresponsive to emotional needs,” says Brandon Santan, PhD, a Chattanooga-based licensed therapist who specializes in relationships.

What to do when you're being slow faded? ›

“There isn't really a way to avoid getting slow-faded,” Simonian adds. “However, you can take control of the situation and ask directly whether or not the person wants to continue dating to avoid being left in limbo.” In other words, use the maturity they couldn't muster to pull yourself out of the gray area.

'Relationship pocketing' is a new term used in the dating world where your partner consistently avoids sharing you with others. There is no mention of you on their social media posts or among their friends and family.

How long before you know you're being ghosted? It doesn't take long to know if you're being ghosted—one relationship expert has revealed that after only three days of no communication, there's a pretty good chance that you've been ghosted.

Key points. The slow fade is the charade that someone puts on when they decide to end a relationship but don't share their decision. The slow fade isn't kind, it's a form of gaslighting that can cause emotional damage.

While ghosting is hardly new, it has become increasingly common due to the intersection of social media, technology, and relationships.

a gradual decrease in the visibility of a scene. Broadcasting, Recording. a gradual decrease in the volume of sound, especially of recorded or broadcast music, dialogue, or the like, usually ending in complete inaudibility. a gradual disappearance or reduction: the fade-out of a brilliant career.

to lose brightness or vividness of color. to become dim, as light, or lose brightness of illumination. to lose freshness, vigor, strength, or health: The tulips have faded. to disappear or die gradually (often followed by away or out ):

Say something brief, vague, and polite, like, “Sorry, but I'm busy that day.” No need to get into specifics. Keep busy with other friends, work or schoolwork, or family obligations, so that you have an easier and more legitimate excuse to turn them down.