Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Authors
Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rapid expansion of social media has introduced a digital layer into the production and experience of urban public spaces, particularly influencing gendered patterns of movement, visibility, and access. This study investigates how social media platforms mediate and reshape gendered behaviors on Ferdowsi Street in Sanandaj, Iran, examining the interaction between physical design, cultural norms, and digital representations in producing spatial inequalities.
METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was employed using a triangulation strategy to ensure validity. Behavioral mapping was conducted to identify spatial behavior patterns. Additionally, semi-structured walk-along interviews were conducted with 46 participants (24 males and 22 females), and thematic analysis was carried out, incorporating both deductive coding based on the Monitoring Cycle of Gender Behavior Differences in Public Space and inductive coding to identify emerging digital-behavioral themes.
FINDINGS: Results show clear gendered spatial segmentation: adolescent and young men predominantly clustered at peripheral, high-visibility nodes, while women concentrated in central and safer segments of the street. Social media played a significant mediating role in producing these patterns. Adolescent boys were highly sensitive to viral, geotagged, and event-driven content, translating online visibility into rapid physical presence. Young women selectively responded to cultural and commercial posts, shaping their spatial use more cautiously. Across all age groups, social media amplified specific nodes along the street, effectively branding certain areas and transforming them into digitally driven hubs of activity. These patterns reflect a hybrid physical-digital public space in which digital representations contribute to the reproduction of gender norms and influence the distribution of agency, comfort, and access.
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that spatial behaviors in contemporary urban environments cannot be understood solely through physical design or socio-cultural norms; digital representations now function as an active component in the production of space. Social media platforms mediate gendered access and reinforce spatial inequalities by commercializing visibility and shaping collective perceptions of safety, desirability, and social value. As a result, designing inclusive and gender-sensitive public spaces requires coordinated interventions in both the physical environment and the digital sphere.
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