Proceedings of the 70th International Academic Conference, Madrid

FROM COMMUNICATION TO FINANCE: STRATEGIC SILENCE IN HYPERPERSONAL DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS

ANA GLOBOČNIK ŽUNAC, VESNA SESAR, IVANA PERKUŠIĆ

Abstract:

Objectives of the study: This paper aims to reconceptualize silence in digital communication as a strategic form of non-expression rather than an absence of interaction. Building on the hyperpersonal communication framework, the study seeks to integrate silence into core communication processes and explore its applicability in information-sensitive environments, including digital financial interactions. Data and Methods: The study adopts a qualitative interpretative approach based on the theoretical reinterpretation of previously collected empirical findings. Existing data related to communication behavior, perceived control, and non-response practices are reanalyzed through the lens of hyperpersonal communication theory. The methodological procedure involves conceptual extraction, theoretical recontextualization, and model development, resulting in the formulation of the Hyperpersonal Strategic Silence (HSS) model. Results: The findings demonstrate that silence functions as a controlled and meaningful communicative resource within digital interaction. Rather than representing a breakdown, non-response participates in meaning-making, temporal structuring, and relational regulation. The study identifies four functional forms of silence: protective, tactical, relational, and disruptive. Furthermore, silence is shown to contribute to perception management and feedback amplification, particularly in contexts characterized by high levels of control and reduced immediacy. In information-sensitive environments, such as digital financial systems, silence can be interpreted as a mechanism for managing information asymmetry, communicative risk, and user perception. Conclusion: The study expands the analytical scope of communication theory by integrating non-expression into the hyperpersonal communication framework. The proposed HSS model positions silence as an intrinsic component of communication processes rather than their interruption. By demonstrating its relevance in high-stakes digital environments, the paper highlights the broader applicability of strategic silence beyond interpersonal communication, opening new directions for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of communication and financial systems.

Keywords: hyperpersonal communication, strategic silence, non-expression, digital communication, information asymmetry, communication control

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2026.070.005

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