When politics is personal: Curating safe spaces through disconnection on instant messaging platforms

While existing research suggests that the closed digital spaces of Instant Messaging (IM) platforms have important democratic implications, this study examines how users actively curate such spaces through disconnection. Using a mixed-method approach within the context of Hong Kong politics after th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of information technology & politics 2025-01, Vol.22 (1), p.98-112
Main Authors: Zhu, Qinfeng, Skoric, Marko M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Disconnection
disconnective behaviors
Dissolution
fear of social isolation
Instant messaging
instant messaging (IM) platforms
Instant messaging systems
National security
Political discourse
Politics
Polls & surveys
Psychological safety
Quantitative analysis
safe spaces
Self care
Social isolation
social media
Social well being
Statistical analysis
systemic victimhood
Visibility
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Summary:While existing research suggests that the closed digital spaces of Instant Messaging (IM) platforms have important democratic implications, this study examines how users actively curate such spaces through disconnection. Using a mixed-method approach within the context of Hong Kong politics after the introduction of the National Security Law (NSL), we examine the extent to which and why IM users engage in disconnective behaviors (tie dissolution, content filtration), and explain the behaviors through socio-psychological and structural factors. Statistical analysis of survey data (N = 946) shows that encountering political disagreement on IM platforms predicts disconnection, which is strengthened by fear of social isolation and perceived systemic victimhood. Thematic analysis of open-ended survey questions contextualizes these findings: Through tie dissolution, IM users regulate their own visibility and remove problematic contacts to avoid being penalized by authorities and peers. By muting disagreeable content, they turn away from contentious political discourse perceived as risky and ineffective under the NSL to focus on personal and social well-being. Overall, we argue that disconnection is a necessary means to curate safe spaces of withdrawal to cope with an uncertain and insecure political environment - it follows the logic of self-care and is a product of social and systemic threats.
ISSN:1933-1681
1933-169X
DOI:10.1080/19331681.2023.2231938