Disconnecting from audience clicks. A gendered analysis of community managers’ disconnection practices

Abstract

This article interrogates the forms of disconnection of community managers (CM) through a gendered analysis. Using a qualitative methodology, it explores professional and personal practices of disconnection in a context where these professionals are exposed to online violence. The results show that women generally prefer relational and disciplinary strategies to disconnect, while men opt more for material and spatial practices. These differences reveal structural inequalities in the way disconnection is experienced and perceived. The study concludes with a broader perspective on the professional contexts that frame the practices of online community managers.