Revealing the Impact of Social Media on Places: Mapping Differences Between Virtual Space and Physical Space

As part of the Month of Urban Design, on 15 November the workshop Revealing the Impact of Social Media on Places takes place.

In the new media era, as more and more people use social media, urban life and experiences are increasingly described through tweets and Instagram posts. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Foursquare, and TikTok are creating a new environment that can be defined as a virtual space. Virtual space allows users to create digital representations of physical spaces by performing online behavior in virtual space, such as browsing, commenting, sharing, and checking in. Under this phenomenon, social sensing and platform urbanism are expanding the boundaries of urban design. What is the difference between virtual space and physical space? Can we work with social media platforms to explore cities and places? How do we use social media for the interactive and inclusive design of neighborhoods? Prompted by these questions, in this workshop, we set ourselves the task of mapping virtual space vs. physical space using social media as a lens, exploring digital representation, digital placemaking, and future changes in the city. Participants will map those differences, and try to reveal the impact of social media on places. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and social media data analysis, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of social media’s effect on places, and find strategies for digital placemaking.

The workshop is led by Shuyu Zhang, Claudiu Forgaci, Section of Urban Design, Department of Urbanism.