The use of urban public places in jakarta for adolescents' hanging out

Abstract

This study examines the adolescents' use of urban public places for hanging out activities in Jakarta, Indonesia and the multiple affordances that these places possess for adolescents' hanging out behaviour. The set of questionnaires was distributed among adolescents aged 11-16 in four schools in Jakarta to obtain the description of their utilisation of the available public places. The study found that the adolescents use various types of places to accommodate their need to hang out with friends. They use places designated as settings for entertainment and socialising as well as places designated for other functions. The findings also highlighted the potential of certain types of urban places such as bus stops, street corners and some unplanned places that become an integral part of adolescents' everyday activity spaces. Such places possess various affordances that support the adolescents' need for social settings. The study confirms the adolescents' use of the whole city as hangouts. In designing urban places, it becomes important to consider the adolescents' capabilities to perceive multiple affordances of urban places and to utilise these places for the activities beyond the main functions of the places.