b'Exploring Youth Social Interaction in Singapores Urban Spaces and Online Platformsplaces for recreation. Hence, the nature of places can either inhibit or promote socialisation,depending on what was observed and amenities available.How does interest-based amenitiesfacilitate social interactions amongyouths?Places that consist of interest-based amenities promote socialinteractions between youths of diverse backgrounds, and this is partly due to place dependence(see Figure 9). Youths are attracted to amenities that allow them to have fun with their friends,potentially befriending strangers while they are at it. A common behavioural model suggests thatin a place, there should be events or interest-based activities to let youths identify it as one thatbrings people from different walks of life with a common interest together, thereby allowingyouths to mingle and make new friendsImplications on Urban PlannersBased on the discussion above, thefollowing recommendations are made todesign socially active public places thatfacilitates both stranger and familiarinteractions:Firstly, urban planners need to designplaces that are based on a specific interest inmind. This includes having a variety ofamenities that caters to recreational needse.g., skating park, event spaces (see Figure10). Secondly, public seatings, preferablysheltered, should be included since itattracts a large volume of youths to chatwhile resting. Thirdly, aesthetic designswhich include murals, scenery and paintingscan be included to liven up the place andencourage photo-taking behaviour. Withrecreational amenities and interestingdesigns, the ambience of a place becomes more fun and relaxed for socialisation. Accessibility to public transport is also recommended to make it convenient. An example of a location that could be altered is provided in Figure 11, which reimagines how Admiralty Park can be redesigned to promote more youth socialisation. By incorporating animals and even cafes that allow youths to showcase their own pets, the park becomes attractive to animal-lovers which includes a large number of youths; they get to bond over their shared love of animals. Additionally, events like International Dog Day can be rotated every few months to keep things lively in Admiralty Park.ConclusionIn conclusion, this study found that youths interact with the environment mostly with their friends and would only interact with strangers if a common interest or activity gets them to mingle. These interactions and activities can take place on both online and FTF mediums, but youths overwhelmingly prefer FTF. When transitioning between online and FTF, an inconsistent personality will turn youths off from interacting with strangers in the future. For FTF interactions youths generally prefer to visit places that have a variety of recreational activities, food and beverage options, novelty, privacy, scenic views and easy accessibility. Hence, places should be designed with a certain interest in mind.7TH PSYCHOLOGY STUDIES 51STUDENT CONFERENCE 2021'