Online Communities and Urban Spaces. Agency and Civic Cooperation through Social Media Engagement

In the last fifteen years, the innovation brought by Information Computer Technologies (ICTs) has provided the rising of Internet of Things (IoT) and the access to all kind of data and information. The availability of technologies and contents concerned also a new conceptualization of the city, urban spaces and citizenship. In particular, it encouraged the born of Online Communities socially engaged and attentive to the enhancement of enclosed land. These spontaneous organizations capable to modify urban spaces indicate substructures based on a citizens’ cultural capital. The aim of the research is to map the phenomenon. After a preliminary desk research, we concentrated on the quality of interaction selecting at first Online Communities linked to the city or to a geographic territory. Secondly, we developed indicators to monitor the interaction among Online communities participants. At the end, a pilot study was planned and designed with the aim to activate agency processes. Results show a renewed relationship between citizens and urban space by using Online Communities: the action of “to be in relation with” enables people to dialogue with other citizens, tourists and local government redefining social practices.