Bridging Space and Algorithm: Mediatized Urban Imaginaries and Cultural Identity Formation among Generation Z

This paper proposes a tri-layered mediatization model, comprising spatial, narrative, and algorithmic dimensions, to explain how Generation Z constructs cultural identity in contemporary cities.The first layer, spatial mediatization, illustrates how urban spaces are reexperienced and re-encoded through digital interfaces, fostering a "digital sense of place."The second layer, narrative mediatization, shows how young people utilize user-generated content (UGC) and AI-aided tools to co-create urban stories and perform symbolic belonging.The third layer, algorithmic mediatization, highlights how recommendation and ranking systems determine which city narratives gain visibility and emotional resonance, thereby shaping algorithmic identity.Critically, these three layers operate in a generative loop: mediated space prompts narrative production, narratives are then filtered and amplified by algorithms, and that amplified visibility, in turn, reshapes space and identity.Ultimately, this model offers a critical framework for interpreting how digital platforms transform cities into dynamic arenas of mediated identity formation for Generation Z.