b'Exploring Youth Social Interaction in Singapores Urban Spaces and Online PlatformsThe COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected youths FTF social interactions but increasedtheir online social interactions as a means of staying connected to their loved ones. While there is anincreasing popularity in transitioning social interactions from online to FTF, youths are generallycautious of doing so because they are afraid that their online acquaintances might have a differentpersona offline.Naturalistic Observation FindingsResearchers observed that youthsgenerally adhered to the environmentalfeatures (e.g., sat down at benches, cycled atbicycling lanes) found at the variousobservation locations, and social interactionsamong youths from different backgroundsonly happens in locations that facilitate arecreational interest (see Figure 2).Interview FindingsYouth social interactions in public and online spacesSimilar to the naturalisticobservation, researchers foundthat youths are attracted toplaces that facilitate recreationalinterests and have aestheticallypleasing features (see Figure 3).Additionally, researchers alsofound accessibility to publictransport and having a noveltyfactor are fundamental in makingthese spaces socially active andattractive for visitation.Online social interactions areparallel to FTF interactions;strangers will only interact if theyshare a common interest (seeFigure 4).Effects of COVID-19 on socialinteractionsGenerally, safety measuresimplemented by the governmenthas more negative impact on FTFinteractions (see Figure 5). Alternatively, there is an increase in online social interactions, with many youths engaging in social activities to stay connected with their loved ones.Cautious about inconsistent personaFindings indicated that youths are less willing to transition from online to FTF interactions withonline acquaintances, since they might present themselves differently. As opposed to FTF, one cancurate their persona and present themselves more favourably online (see Figure 6). If there is a7TH PSYCHOLOGY STUDIES 49STUDENT CONFERENCE 2021'