Hyperconnexion et (in)dépendance des gestionnaires de communautés québécois·e·s face aux plateformes

Abstract

As the profession of community manager (CM) becomes more professionalized, the practice of this profession is confronted with a twofold platformization, on the one hand through social media to reach their audiences, and on the other hand to keep abreast of the algorithmic evolutions of the platforms that affect this sector so much.  The aim of this article is to gain a critical understanding of the issues facing CMs in Quebec, such as hyperconnexion and disconnection, in relation to the phenomenon of platformization. To this end, we are mobilizing data from a qualitative research project conducted between 2020 and 2022 among CMs in Quebec. The methodological approach is in two parts, consisting first of 33 qualitative interviews with Quebec CMs about their practices, followed by two focus groups. Our findings point to a dependence on platforms, linked to the lack of regulation of the CM profession in Quebec regarding working hours, in a context of intensification of the pace of work, marked by continual change and the multiplication of work tools. Furthermore, CMs are often confronted with hyperconnexion, which contributes to technostress. By the very nature of this profession, hyperconnexion seems difficult to circumvent, due to the demands of continuous learning and the multitude of tools required to carry out tasks. Disconnection tactics mobilizing different types of barriers (material, temporal, spatial, organizational, relational, administrative) are nevertheless implemented individually by CMs to preserve their life balance.