Much progress has been made since, at the end of the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci designed the first robot, which he named Automata Cavaliere, created for the amusement of guests at the Sforza Palace in Milan.
Today, in digital networks, we face powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data systems. AI algorithms have the capacity to control almost everything that happens in cyberspace.
Therefore, it is necessary to study the fundamental elements that operate both in our private lives and in the public sphere, to understand how reality is constructed (and destroyed), including gaslighting, framing, and agenda setting; the combination of these three is lethal.
Let's begin with the most intimate and devastating. The term gaslighting comes from the film Gaslight (1944), in which a husband manipulates his wife into believing she has lost her mind: he dims the gaslights in the house and swears they are still just as bright, hides objects, and assures her that she has lost them.
In the digital ecosystem, gaslighting transcends the realm of interpersonal manipulation to become a weapon of systemic disinformation. Its objective is not to deceive, but to erode the capacity of individuals and society to trust their own perception of reality; it is not merely to achieve political instability, but an epistemological fracture.
Cyberspace is flooded with contradictory narratives about the same event. The aim is not to impose a lie, but to create such "noise" that the truth seems unattainable or a matter of opinion. Likewise, terms are co-opted and given meanings opposite to the originals, calling censorship "freedom" or aggression "peace".
Moreover, media outlets, journalists, and institutions that report uncomfortable truths are systematically discredited, labeled as "fake," "pro-government," or "sold out to the regime." The goal is that, when evidence is presented, the public automatically rejects it because it comes from an "official" source.
Furthermore, social media algorithms, by prioritizing engagement, create bubbles in which the gaslighting narrative is repeated and reinforced without counterbalancing.
Countering this form of manipulation requires a multifaceted approach that combines individual resilience with collective action. The first step would be to recognize that the information "noise" and constant contradiction are a deliberate strategy.
Break free from the digital loop and compare information with the tangible environment or irrefutable empirical data. Before sharing content, ask yourself: Where did this come from? What's the agenda? What verifiable evidence exists? Cultivate a healthy skepticism.
At a collective and societal level, we must implement educational programs that teach not only how to detect fake news, but also how to understand the mechanics of psychological manipulation and cognitive biases in the digital environment.
A society with strong institutions is more resilient to the erosion of trust; therefore, it is important to support and defend media outlets and scientific organizations that operate with standards of transparency and methodology.
The best protection against an attractive lie is an equally compelling truth. It is necessary to build and disseminate proactive narratives that offer a sense of belonging, purpose, and a vision for the future.
Gaslighting in cyberspace exploits our dependence on digital information and our cognitive vulnerabilities. Countering it is not just an act of fact-checking, but an exercise in sovereignty and resilience.
Source: Victor Calef, Edward M. Weinshel, Some Clinical Consequences of Introjection: Gaslighting. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly Volume 50, 1981.
