Orbiting is a modern dating trend where someone cuts off direct communication but continues to follow your social media activity, such as watching your Instagram stories or liking your posts. Coined by Anna Iovine in 2018, orbiting is a frustrating behavior unique to the age of social media. Unlike ghosting, where the person completely disappears, orbiting keeps the individual on the edges of your digital life without engaging in any meaningful way.
People orbit for a variety of reasons. Some use it as a 'power move,' keeping tabs on you without fully committing, while others might orbit out of fear of missing out or wanting to keep their options open. In some cases, the person may not even realize how their actions are being perceived, such as accidentally viewing a story or liking a post. However, the emotional impact on the person being orbited can be significant, often leaving them confused or unable to find closure.
If you find yourself being orbited and it's affecting your emotional well-being, the best solution is to block the person and regain control over your digital space. This can help break the emotional limbo that orbiting creates.
Orbiting highlights the blurry boundaries that social media can create in relationships, making it harder to truly disconnect from someone.