In modern dating parlance, breadcrumbing is the equivalent of stringing someone along via digital communication without ever meeting them.
Breadcrumbing examples:
Being attentive and flirty in person but not making a move to hang out again. Sending memes via text or social media with no other communication. Texting frequently but not really getting to know each other. Making ambiguous plans with you that never seem to pan out.
The Red Flags
"[Breadcrumbers] make plans with you but cancel or don't show up, and they seem too busy for you," explains Campbell. "They might even go absent for periods of time." You never know where you stand with them.
Once you catch on that someone is breadcrumbing you, call them out on what they are doing. Pointing it out to them can accomplish the following goals: It shows that you are aware of what is happening and that you are not gullible to manipulative tactics.
What happens when you ignore a breadcrumber? The moment you start ignoring a breadcrumber, you stop feeding their ego. Eventually, they will get the message and move on.
Breadcrumbing can be a typical behavior of narcissists and other toxic people. Breadcrumbing is usually done through a low-effort text or direct message. The narcissist may breadcrumb with future faking, vaguely referring to some plan for the two of you in the future that will never materialize.
In modern dating parlance, breadcrumbing is the equivalent of stringing someone along via digital communication without ever meeting them.
Breadcrumbers are awfully insecure and keeping you interested makes them feel better about themselves whereas getting any kind of validation from you makes them feel worthy and important.
Breadcrumbing happens when someone gives you just enough time and attention to keep you interested. But breadcrumbers don't want to commit — instead, they manipulate you so that you're left wanting more. Responding inconsistently and not following up about plans are clear signs of breadcrumbing.
Orbiting in dating is when you cut off direct contact with the person you're dating but continue to engage with their content on social media. It's been dubbed “the new ghosting,” and, following an essay by Anna Iovine in 2018, gained more momentum in the pop-culture discourse.
The standard breading technique involves first dredging the item with flour, dipping it in egg wash, and then finally coating it with breadcrumbs. This works because the flour sticks to the food, the egg sticks to the flour, and the breadcrumbs stick to the egg.
Properly stored, a package of dried bread crumbs will generally stay at best quality for about 8 to 10 months. To maximize the shelf life of opened dried bread crumbs, keep package tightly closed.
Although a friend who only messages you when it's convenient for them or as a way to get you to do what they want is irritating and inconsiderate, some instances of breadcrumbing enter into the realm of emotional abuse and can present serious mental health challenges.
What is “benching” in dating? Simply put, benching is when you like someone enough to keep spending time with them but not enough to commit in any given way — situationships included. Instead, a bencher will keep you on your toes by arbitrarily asking you out when it's convenient.
Breadcrumbing involves an asymmetrical relationship in which one partner is more invested than the other. The less committed person may avoid confronting the other person—even if they recognize this—because they may not feel ready to say goodbye, and pushing for clarity may spark a conflict that ends the relationship.
By confronting the breadcrumber, you're showing that you're smarter than they might have expected. You're effectively removing the attention they need to thrive. The second way to fight a breadcrumber is by simply ignoring them. Essentially, you're ghosting the breadcrumber — the same thing they've been doing to you.
Breadcrumbing is a slang term for sending out flirty or affectionate cues without a real intention for commitment. A person uses this manipulative and inconsistent behavior just enough to keep the other person attracted.
“People feel comfortable not having to make an actual effort and would rather take the easy way out.” Edwards adds that, other times, people don't realize they're breadcrumbing you. “They like the attention and will do just enough to keep it going, not thinking they're doing anything wrong,” he says.
Submarining, a newly named trend, begins when someone with whom you have romantic involvement, ghosts — or disappears from your life without notice — only to resurface, with no apology and acts as if no time had passed.
They change temporarily when you find out
People who breadcrumb others are fully conscious of what they are doing. So, when they realize that you have noticed, they will change for a short time.
Breadcrumbing can lead to hurt feelings and sleepless nights. Still, it's not as directly manipulative as gaslighting, which alienates the victim from friends and themselves with the intent to control.
those who experience breadcrumbing remain in a 'standby' state with time, which can often make victims feel excluded. So, compared to ghosting, it is suffered as a more intense ostracism experience, which is why it has more negative effects on mental health.”
"People who are ghosted crave resolution — that is wrapped up in a neat package with a bow," says Masini. "The ghosting is all they get, and it's not what they want, but it's final." Breadcrumbing, on the other hand, perpetuates unhealthy, awful communication that's just dragged out.