I feel a sense of anxiety when I begin typing something into telegram or signal and then choose not to send the message because I know the other person has seen "hodlbod is typing".

I've only noticed this because when typing messages in Coracle that I then choose not to send I have a small moment of panic, then relief when I realize my conversation partner is none the wiser. Sometimes it's simpler to just not reply, and sending involuntary signals makes the act of communication more complex.

Are typing hints a dark pattern? Or are they a healthy analog of real-life communication (in imitation of e.g. body language)? Maybe the principle of designing social media experiences to "imitate real life" is flawed? Maybe new media shouldn't imitate life, because they are distinctly their own thing?