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Present but Withheld: Everyday Practices of Digital Minimalism in Academic WhatsApp
Abstract
This chapter explores how academics in Turkey use WhatsApp groups in ways that reduce visibility and interaction, forming a subtle practice of digital minimalism. These groups often encourage openness and responsiveness, yet many members stay silent, do not upload photos, use vague or symbolic names, and avoid status updates. While such behavior may seem passive, it often reflects a deliberate strategy to manage emotional effort, presence, and exposure in academic communication. Rather than interpreting this as disengagement, the chapter sees it as a meaningful form of agency. Drawing on observations from student, research, and professional WhatsApp groups, the chapter identifies patterns such as passive membership, minimal identity disclosure, and limited availability. These strategies show how users handle group norms while preserving boundaries. By viewing these behaviors through communication culture and institutional dynamics, the chapter reframes digital silence as an intentional form of participation on one's own terms.
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