We've all been there: Your friend is walking you through their most recent break-up and they suddenly throw out a term you've never heard before. You smile and nod, but later you think to yourself... "Wait. WTF is orbiting?"
So we reached out to an expert on modern dating, Maria Sullivan, VP of Dating.com, to get the lowdown on the of-the-moment terms that we should all be familiar with while we're dating in NYC.
What is breadcrumbing and what should you do if someone's doing it to you?
Breadcrumbing is the new ghosting, except instead of cutting off all types of communication out of nowhere, you string someone along even when you have no intentions of taking things further than a flirty text message. If you notice someone showing these signs, nip it in the butt and walk away from the situation. If you are feeling extra sassy, call them out on their sketchy and misleading behaviors.
What are some warning signs that you're being breadcrumbed?
Some warning signs to be on the lookout for include, texting back three days later and not committing to making a plan to hang out in person.
What is orbitting?
It's when your relationship ends, and you remove that person from your life completely, but you still find your self-liking their social media posts.
What are some helpful ways to stop ourselves if we find ourselves orbitting an ex?
If you find yourself orbiting an ex, make sure you remove them from your social media channels to prevent you from constantly checking and engaging with your ex’s content.
If you're feeling like you're being orbitted, and want to establish a relationship with that person, what are some good ways to reach out or make a move?
If you notice you are being orbited by someone you had a falling out with, it shows that they still care and just aren’t over the situation yet. After a significant amount of time, reaching out with a phone call or text message will help smooth over the situation and hopefully resolve the issue.
What's sliding into someone’s DMs?
It's when you sent a direct message to someone on social media.
Is there a socially acceptable/non-creepy way to "slide into someone's DMs" and pursue a potential romantic interest that you follow on Twitter or Instagram?
This is tricky, but totally do-able! If you are looking to slide into your crushes DMs make sure you avoid doing so during the wee hours of the morning. Many people meet their significant others on social media, but make sure to keep it light and playful. Start off with a simple reply to a story on Instagram or Snapchat, or respond to a recent tweet to make it timely.
