How prevalent is ghosting in today's dating culture ?

I'm 19 and pretty new to the dating scene, relatively inexperienced. I had my first real romantic experience end with being ghosted and I think it's seriously wrecked my nervous system.

He had some red flags and such from the beginning but I genuinely thought we were really perfect together. Similiar humor, likes, personalities, interests etc. Everything was so easy. He was very serious, seemed like he adored me, then one Monday became the last I heard from him, about 3 months ago.

I can take rejection, I can take criticism, it turns out I really, really cannot take not knowing why someone went from acting like I was the best thing that ever happened to him to suddenly seeming like I wasn't worth anything.

It has made me so incredibly anxious about dating again. I have done the internal reflection, I know I really want to love someone to the point I'll overlook things I shouldn't, and keep trying even after they've discarded me. As someone with relatively little experience, I was hoping some people here who've experienced the same thing can share how often it's happened and how they've dealt with it so I can get a better idea of how to move forward.

I do want to start going on dates again, more casually and carefully this time. I know this is the final step I have to take in properly moving on from him. But yeah, I'm really, really scared it'll happen again. I really don't think I can do it again. Unless I suppose I changed my mindset, which I'm not sure how to do.

Any advice or insight would be really appreciated, by anyone who's been through something similiar and came out the other end better.

Thank you.