Expert: Breaking Up By 'Ghosting' And Vanishing Is 'Coward's Way Out'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An old breakup tactic has been making a comeback, and some people do not like it at all.

As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, "ghosting" involves ending a romantic relationship by completely cutting off contact – phone, email and social media – and ignoring your partner entirely.

Liz Horn said she ghosted her boyfriend, but they ended up getting back together afterward.

"Just easier that way- obviously things, I mean, it didn't work out very well, because we ended up back together," she said.

But relationship specialist Lisa Brateman said the method leaves the ghosted party confused with no closure – zero communication, zero explanation.

"Instead of saying, 'Hey this isn't working out, they disappear,'" she said.

Ghosting was reportedly the way actress Charlize Theron broke off her engagement with Sean Penn, leaving the Hollywood actor in the dark.

And it apparently isn't a new thing. It used to be called the "fade away," but now with new technology and dating apps, it has become a more common practice.

"I don't think you need to be mean," said Monica Gaalema. "I think that's a generation thing."

"They don't see them initially as a person with feelings. They see them as a profile -- 'Oh that, person looks good today, but tomorrow there is somebody shinier,'" Brateman added.

Brateman explained that some may think ghosting is an easy way out – no drama, no feelings hurt and no explanations needed. But that is not the case.

"Take five seconds and like, you know, just be like, 'You know. not interested.' That's fine," said one woman, Allyssa. "You know, then we can move on with our lives."

Brateman said ghosting is an avoidant tactic.

"Avoidance – 'I don't want to deal with telling you I'm not interested. I'm uncomfortable with it,'" she said. "So it's the coward's way out."

Most people who spoke to CBS2 on the subject said ghosting may seem like the easy option, but the silent treatment is not beneficial to either party and honesty always wins.