Ghostlighting: The Toxic New Dating Trend Worse Than Ghosting

• Ghostlighting is a toxic new dating trend combining ghosting (abrupt communication cut-off) and gaslighting (psychological manipulation).
• It involves manipulating partners into doubting themselves before cutting communication, leaving victims confused and emotionally destabilized.
• Perpetrators shift blame onto the partner, then disappear, only to re-establish contact later, denying any prior withdrawal.
• Experts like Amy Chan explain ghostlighters minimize their absence and distort facts, making victims doubt their reality.
• To recognize it, observe consistent behavior; if a partner resurfaces after disappearing, calmly confront their lack of acknowledgment.