Instantly There and Constantly Present - Care in online gaming spaces
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2025-12-13
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en
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This thesis researches how care is practiced and experienced in online gaming spaces, with a particular focus on Discord. It explores the research question: What does care look like in online gaming spaces, what specific care practices emerge within these spaces, and how are they shaped by the design and features of platforms like Discord? Through qualitative data from multiple participants as well as ethnographic data from my own experiences, various care practices were observed, including listening, empathizing, giving advice, sharing experiences, motivating others, and gaming together. Challenges of online care such as missing physical presence were recognized, but most participants noted that they accept the limits and adapt accordingly. The thesis has found that the observed care practices are enabled and influenced by various affordances within Discord’s design, which enable flexible forms of interacting and create a sense of constant presence and availability. These aspects are central to how care is practiced, making it both meaningful and effective for the participants in this study.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen