Designing for the Feed: How Social Media Shapes Environmental Aesthetics and Urban Quality of Life
Keywords:
Environmental Aesthetics, Social Media, Urban Quality of Life, Spatial ExperienceAbstract
The study proposes Social Media-Driven Environmental Aesthetics (SMDEA) to describe how digital platforms influence our perceptions of the environment, space, and quality of life in cities. It draws on theory-building and the literature on architecture, urban design, environmental aesthetics, environmental psychology, digital media studies, and quality-of-life research. Social media can thus mediate urban experience through aesthetic perception, spatial engagement, emotional attachment, and social inclusivity (the theory). They can have both positive and negative impacts (e.g., commodification and psychological strain). The study provides a theoretical basis for future research concerning digitally mediated urban environments.
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