This paper explores the engagement of architecture and design-related disciplines within the built environment with social media. The study aims to identify key themes, assess the methodologies used and compare the approaches across different disciplines.
The research employs a semi-systematic literature review coupled with thematic analysis. This approach allows for a comprehensive examination of existing studies, identifying key themes, trends and gaps in the current knowledge base. Through this methodology, the paper synthesises diverse perspectives and insights from a wide range of sources.
Social media data is a valuable tool for understanding architecture and the built environment, but there is a significant divergence in methodologies across disciplines. There is a growing advocacy for mixed-method approaches that would benefit from critical engagement with data that’s underpinned by theoretical frameworks. Such approaches enhance research robustness, support multidisciplinary collaboration and improve the applicability of social media data in design practices.
Despite the proliferation of literature on social media and the built environment, there remains a lack of nuanced understanding regarding thematic variations within individual design disciplines and the specific research methodologies they employ. This paper critically reviews existing research to offer current insights, research gaps and potential future research directions on social media and architecture/design-related disciplines in the built environment.
