Urban territoriality of modern teenagers

Introduction. The urban territoriality of modern teenagers is determined by the characteristics of their age, changes in the nature of their movements and a dialectical contradiction: their «visible trace» in the urban environment, manifested in marking and territorial aggression (for example, garbage, graffiti, loud conversations and music, spitting, etc.), does not make them more visible to be taken into account, does not attract them to participate in urban life, does not define a special space for their interaction. The aim of the study is to determine the boundaries and features of urban territorial behavior of adolescents and young people aged 13–18, to describe these places, and highlight the main types of activities and behavior patterns of adolescents in these places. Materials and methods. The study analyzed the locations where experts observed the behavior and activities of adolescents at different times of the day in the summer in the following cities: Moscow, Sergiev Posad, Balashikha (Moscow Region), Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo, Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi), Kazan, Pushkin (Leningrad Region). The study was conducted using the method of «behavioral episodes», territory analysis and mapping. Photo documentation and spontaneous unstructured interviews were used situationally, depending on the context. Results. The study analyzed 35 locations in 8 cities. Using behavioral episodes, the experts recorded the following activities: group interactions (41 episodes), pair interactions (12), scooter/bicycle riding (20), sports games (17), swing and carousels rides (11), and drinking and eating (7). It was noted that adolescents spent more time at sports facilities (28) and playgrounds (27). The findings showed that teenagers prefer public spaces or locations at the borders of areas that have benches and places to relax, with grocery stores nearby and plenty of greenery. They value the privacy of these places, the absence of territorial conflicts, and a simple design. KEYWORDS Conclusions. Based on the conducted research, it can be established that the yard teenage communities culture has been lost. Teenager’s spaces are either poorly represented or completely absent in the locations and cities that were studied. Teenagers with their characteristic confrontational and opinionated nature are neither the target audience nor the focus of the agendas of Russian urbanists, architects, and other professionals involved in urban development. Furthermore, urban communities view them with distrust, and sometimes even with extreme hostility, due to their experimental and often inappropriate behavior. Further research into the urban territoriality of modern teenagers could be considered a promising area within developmental psychology, proxemics, and sociology, and worthy of closer attention from urbanists, urban planners, architects, as well as educational advisors and leaders of youth public organizations and associations. The use of ethnographic methods, observational techniques, and participation practices and engagement with teenagers in urban affairs can help establish a meaningful dialogue with this age group and thereby reduce the tension and confrontation typical of this age group.