Flatlighting
A form of Digitallighting that uses the “Flat Earth” analogy to gaslight targets into believing their ideas are obviously ridiculous. The perpetrator repeatedly compares the target’s position to Flat Earth theory, often in public spaces, until the target begins to feel that they must be missing something obvious. Even when the target’s ideas are well‑supported, the constant association with a stigmatized belief erodes their confidence. Flatlighting weaponizes social conformity to silence dissent.
Example: “Every time she cited peer‑reviewed research, he posted ‘Flat Earth logic.’ After weeks, she started editing her posts more carefully, wondering if she was being irrational—flatlighting, using mockery to undermine certainty.”
Flatlighting by Abzugal April 1, 2026
