Orbiting

Noun (informal)

Pronunciation
OR-bit-ing

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
/ˈɔːr.bɪ.tɪŋ/

Lexicographic Status
Culturally accepted term used in discussions of modern dating and digital communication.

Definition
Orbiting refers to a pattern of digital behaviour in which a person who has ended or reduced direct communication continues to interact with another person indirectly through social media.

The behaviour often involves viewing stories, liking posts, or otherwise engaging with a person’s online presence while avoiding direct conversation or meaningful interaction. As a result, the individual remains visible in the other person’s digital environment without actively participating in the relationship.

The term draws on the metaphor of a satellite orbiting a planet—remaining nearby and visible without making direct contact.

Origin of the Term
The term orbiting gained widespread attention in the late 2010s as people began describing patterns of digital behaviour in modern dating. The concept became widely known in 2018 after writer Anna Iovine used the term to describe a situation in which someone stops responding to messages but continues viewing or interacting with another person’s social media activity.

Cultural Context
Orbiting became widely discussed as social media platforms increasingly shaped modern dating and communication patterns. The behaviour reflects how digital environments allow individuals to remain passively connected to others—viewing posts or stories—while avoiding direct conversation.

In contemporary dating discourse, orbiting is often discussed alongside related behaviours such as ghosting, breadcrumbing, and zombieing, which describe other patterns of communication and relationship dynamics in digitally mediated relationships.

Related Terms
Ghosting
Zombieing
Breadcrumbing
Soft Ghosting

Sources
ABC News
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus News
Stylist
Psychology Today

Related Terms in The Women’s Archive
Ghosting
Soft Ghosting
Breadcrumbing
Zombieing
Situationship
Future Faking
Love Bombing

WLW (Women Loving Women)

Noun (informal) Pronunciation W-L-W IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) /ˌdʌb.əl.juː ˌɛl ˈdʌb.əl.juː/ Lexicographic Status Culturally accepted term used in discussions of sexuality, identity, and queer relationships. Definition WLW, short for women loving women, refers to an umbrella term used to describe women who are romantically or sexually

Comphet (Compulsory Heterosexuality)

Noun (informal) Pronunciation KOM-phet IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) /ˈkɒmˌhɛt/ Lexicographic Status Culturally accepted term used in discussions of sexuality, identity, and modern dating culture. Definition Comphet, short for compulsory heterosexuality, refers to the social assumption or pressure that women are naturally attracted to men, regardless of their actual feelings or

U-Hauling

Noun (informal) Pronunciation YOO-hawl-ing IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) /ˈjuːˌhɔː.lɪŋ/ Lexicographic Status Culturally accepted term used in discussions of queer dating culture and relationships. Definition U-hauling refers to a dating stereotype originating within lesbian, sapphic, and women-loving-women (WLW) communities in which relationships are perceived to become serious very quickly, often

Floodlighting

Noun (informal) Pronunciation FLUHD-light-ing IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) /ˈflʌdˌlaɪ.tɪŋ/ Lexicographic Status Culturally accepted term used in discussions of modern dating and digital communication. Definition Floodlighting refers to a dating behaviour in which a person shares excessive personal or emotional information early in a relationship in order to create a

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WLW (Women Loving Women)

Comphet (Compulsory Heterosexuality)

U-Hauling

Floodlighting