#OnlineDating

A new toxic dating phenomenon known as “ghostlighting” is gaining attention worldwide, and its ripple effects are beginning to impact Thai singles navigating the modern dating landscape. Combining the emotional wounds of ghosting with the mental manipulation of gaslighting, ghostlighting represents a deeply harmful evolution in digital-age relationships. Experts and advocates warn that understanding this emerging behaviour is essential for those seeking emotional safety and healthy connections in Thailand’s ever-growing online dating scene (Times of India).

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).

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.