The "Missed Message" Effect: Why We Care More About What Wasn't Said

Hi! Have you ever caught yourself constantly checking your phone because you're waiting for a response? Or rereading the last message, trying to figure out why he (or she) is still silent? Congratulations, you've encountered the "missed message" effect - when waiting and silence mean more than the words themselves.

I can say that silence is not just the absence of letters on the screen. It is a powerful trigger that launches a whole storm of emotions and worries. Especially when it comes to relationships on an international dating site. Every message seems like a step into the unknown, but silence... it can be louder than a thousand words!

Why does silence affect us so much?

Our brain likes to guess. "Is he busy or just doesn't want to talk?", "Is he not interested in me?" And the longer the silence, the more dramatic the guesses.

Silence also seems like a rejection. In a normal dialogue, the reaction comes immediately, but here - nothing. And we feel an invisible "no". Even if the real reason is banal: the person was just at a meeting. That's why missed messages on relationship websites bother us so much.

But remember that not everything revolves around you. People are busy, tired, or just not in the mood.

Don't jump to conclusions. If a person hasn't responded for several hours, it doesn't mean they're not interested.

But if silence has become the norm - move on. Online dating services are full of people who want to communicate with you without games and waiting.

And if someone is really interested, they will definitely find a way to respond.

Yaroslava, 23
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