Are we living in an age of Gaslighting?

The term “gaslighting” is often used to describe situations where people feel they are being encouraged to doubt what they can plainly see, hear, or experience for themselves. While the word originally described manipulative behaviour in personal relationships, many people now feel it appears increasingly in public life as well - in politics, media, advertising, institutions, workplaces, and online debates.
We often hear strong public claims about values such as freedom, fairness, safety, inclusion, transparency, or free expression — yet critics sometimes argue that actions taken in practice can appear to contradict those same ideals. Supporters may see this as necessary complexity in a difficult world, while others experience it as confusing, contradictory, or emotionally disorienting.
Over brunch or coffee, we’ll explore why so many people today feel uncertain about what to trust, whether modern public life encourages confusion and contradiction, and how we can think clearly in an age of competing narratives and constant information.

• Why do so many people feel that public messages and real-world actions no longer fully align?
• Has modern media and politics made people more informed — or more psychologically manipulated?
• How can we stay thoughtful and grounded when different groups claim completely different versions of reality?