Have you ever been ghosted? While we know that ghosting hurts the mental health of the person being ghosted (“ghostee”), what might surprise you is that ghosters’ mental health also takes a hit. Serial ghosting can stunt a ghoster’s personal growth; the more they become comfortable avoiding intimacy, the more it becomes unfamiliar to them. When presented with genuine intimacy, serial ghosters may feel the urge to ghost even when the situation is not harmful or unpleasant, potentially sabotaging their social life. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here