#Ghosting

Online dating has reshaped how people meet, but recent research shows its emotional footprint runs deeper than expected. Professionals describe practices like ghosting, breadcrumbing, and even fabricating details as increasingly common, contributing to fatigue for those seeking genuine connections. For Thai audiences, the takeaway is clear: digital courtship affects well-being as much as relationships themselves.

In Bangkok and Thailand’s urban centers, dating apps touch more than romance. They remove traditional social barriers while presenting fast-paced exchanges and selective messaging. In Thai online communities, terms such as ghosting (suddenly ending contact), breadcrumbing (sporadic attention to keep someone interested), and zombieing (reappearing after disappearance) have entered everyday conversations, signaling how love is discussed in the digital era.

Mobile dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and others have revolutionized how people initiate romantic or sexual connections, but experts now warn that these platforms are leaving a deeper emotional mark than many realize. According to the latest research and reporting, emotionally damaging behaviors like ghosting, breadcrumbing, and even the fabrication of personal information are increasingly prevalent online, causing growing psychological fatigue among users who seek genuine connections but find themselves navigating a minefield of manipulation and disappointment (El País).

A new international study from the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra shows that ghosting and gaslighting—common online relationship behaviours—can fuel depression and paranoia, especially among young adults. The findings underscore the mental health risks tied to modern dating cultures and the broader impact of online dating on wellbeing. Research by reputable institutions highlights how anonymity and ease of cutting contact online exacerbate emotional harm.

In Thailand, social media and dating apps are increasingly shaping romance, mirroring global trends. Experts say online disappearance (ghosting) and manipulating someone’s perception (gaslighting) are not only painful but damaging to mental health. With dating app use rising locally and mental health apps gaining traction among Thais, it’s timely to understand these dynamics. Data from Thailand’s tech and health sectors shows high engagement with wellness platforms, reflecting a growing public interest in mental health support.

A groundbreaking study released by researchers at the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra reveals that ghosting and gaslighting—two behaviours increasingly prevalent in the digital age—can trigger depression and paranoia, particularly among young adults. The findings highlight not only the mental health risks associated with these relationship practices but also the broader impact of online dating culture on psychological wellbeing (The Independent).

Modern romance in Thailand, as in much of the world, is increasingly mediated by social media and dating applications. The latest research confirms suspicions long held by mental health professionals: the anonymity and ease of cutting contact online (known as ghosting) and manipulating a partner’s reality (gaslighting) are not just emotionally painful but measurably damaging to mental health. The study’s results are particularly relevant as usage of dating apps continues to surge locally, and mental health apps themselves find a growing market among Thais—82% of those surveyed by Rakuten Insight reported continued use of mental wellness apps in 2022 (Statista).

A new study highlights ghosting and gaslighting in online dating as risk factors for mental health issues among young adults. Researchers from the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra found links between these behaviors and symptoms of depression and paranoia, underscoring emotional risks in modern dating culture.

For Thai readers, the findings feel highly relevant in a social media-driven era where dating apps are popular among Gen Z and millennials. As relationship norms evolve, digital rejection and manipulation can spread with a single tap. Ghosting—being suddenly ignored—and gaslighting—emphasizing doubt about one’s memory or perceptions—can leave lasting emotional effects.

The rise of ghosting and gaslighting in digital-age relationships is causing significant psychological harm, especially among young adults, a new study reveals. Researchers from the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra have found strong links between these increasingly common relationship behaviors and symptoms of depression and paranoia, raising fresh concerns about the dangers lurking within online dating culture (The Independent).

For Thai readers living in an era dominated by social media and dating apps, these findings underscore a growing mental health risk that may hit close to home. As relationship customs shift, digital rejection and manipulation techniques—once limited by physical proximity—now cross geographical borders with the tap of a screen. Whether someone has been abruptly ignored by a romantic prospect (ghosting) or repeatedly manipulated to question their own memory and reality (gaslighting), the psychological damage can be profound.

A revealing new study conducted by academic teams at the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra has spotlighted the profound psychological impacts that ghosting and gaslighting can have—especially among young adults negotiating today’s digitally-driven relationship landscape. The findings forge important connections between the surge of online communication and risks to mental health, and they carry sobering implications for individuals across Thailand navigating similar social terrains.

According to the research, which surveyed 544 adults aged 18 to 40 in the UK, both ghosting—the act of abruptly ending all communication without explanation—and gaslighting—a psychological manipulation tactic that leads individuals to doubt their reality—were shown to trigger mental health symptoms such as depression and paranoid thinking. The study’s methodology accounted for variables like age, income, and personality traits, including sensitivity to rejection and uncertainty, which are themselves recognized as risk factors for mental distress.

A new study by researchers at the University of Brighton and the University of Coimbra shows ghosting and gaslighting can profoundly affect mental health, especially among young adults navigating today’s digital dating scene. The findings highlight how online communication correlates with psychological distress and carry important implications for Thailand’s youth and adults facing similar social dynamics.

The UK-based research surveyed 544 adults aged 18 to 40. It found that ghosting—ending communication without explanation—and gaslighting—manipulating someone to doubt their reality—are linked to symptoms of depression and paranoid thinking. The study controlled for age, income, and personality traits such as sensitivity to rejection and uncertainty, which themselves increase vulnerability to distress.