Living Between Screens and Streets: The influence of Social Media on Generation Z and Urban Spaces

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, the internet and social media have deeply penetrated various aspects of people's lives. Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) represents the first to be influenced by the internet from birth. This thesis investigates the impact of social media on Generation Z's identity, social behaviors, and interactions with urban spaces, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between the digital and physical worlds. Employing qualitative methods, including analyses of social media usage habit, urban space case studies, and theoretical perspectives on internet culture and urban spaces, this study explores the complex relationship between digital natives and their urban environments. Key findings indicate that social media platforms are crucial architects in shaping Generation Z's social reality and spatial interactions, creating a unique dual existence between screens and streets. The emergence of a prosumer society, characterized by the merging roles of consumers and producers, emphasizes the experience economy and symbolic value of goods in the Internet age. Moreover, the transformation of urban public spaces into mediatised environments demonstrates the convergence of digital and physical worlds, reshaping public spaces and architectural practices. The research suggests the concepts of positive and negative space in design to cater more effectively to Generation Z's internet-native preferences and applies this concept to the revitalization design of Aotea Square. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to the discourse on the societal and spatial impacts of digital technologies, offering insights for the future development of architecture, urban design, and social media platforms to accommodate the intertwined digital-physical lives of Generation Z.