This study examines the spatial experiences of different generations living in Gaziantep who identify themselves as Gaziantep natives in their daily lives and how these experiences have been reshaped by the process of digital change and transformation. The starting point of the research is the interpretation of passages, which occupy a very important place in the sociocultural memory of the city, as special places of “socialization” and “belonging” for the X and Y generations in particular. In contrast, the Z generation has a limited relationship with the passages; these spaces do not have a significant resonance for them. Spending time in shopping malls or shopping online are more prominent in their daily lives. While arcades create a “unique” and “personal” atmosphere for modern times, today's shopping malls appear to be more uniform, spaces where the same brands and similar products are displayed.

The study focuses on the change and transformation in the perceptions of social actors regarding their sense of belonging to places in their daily lives, based on Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus, defined as a “system of enduring dispositions.” Data collected through ethnographic methods are evaluated in this context. The study adopts a qualitative research method, conducting in-depth ethnographic field interviews with female and male participants from each generation (X, Y, Z). The qualitative data obtained from these interviews are analyzed. Data collected using ethnographic methods are evaluated in this context. Qualitative research methods were adopted in the study, and in-depth interviews were conducted in the ethnographic field with female and male participants from each generation (X, Y, Z). The qualitative data obtained from the interviews were classified according to specific themes. The narratives of the generations regarding space, socialization, and consumption practices were examined. The findings show that generations X and Y define passages as important “centers of attraction” and “collective memory spaces,” while generation Z, having grown up immersed in digital culture, does not feel an emotional attachment or cultural connection to such physical spaces.

The results obtained from the research are significant in that they show that digitalization transforms not only the communication patterns of generations but also the cultural structure of the city, its daily life, socialization practices, and spatial affiliations. In this context, the study sheds light on the effects of digitalization on the city's memory by discussing cultural change between generations, the differentiation of leisure activities, and the transformation of space.