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

Abstract

ABSTRACT 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.