This book explores the implications of urban living in a world increasingly influenced by digital platforms. As smart city initiatives promote the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and big data analytics by governments, platform urbanism examines the intricate relationships among urban citizens, city services, and platform ecosystems. Recent backlash against major global platforms has led to growing discussions on platform capitalism, surveillance, and governance, alongside regulatory scrutiny of their market dominance. The book poses critical questions about how platform ecosystems transform connected cities, how urban researchers and policymakers engage with these dynamics, and what multisensory urban experiences emerge through platform interfaces. It also addresses the governance challenges necessary to foster and protect the digital public spaces integral to our connected lives. The chapters cover a range of topics, including the evolution of digital platforms, the concept of "Uberisation," the complexities of platform intermediation, and envisioning the city as a platform. Ultimately, it calls for a rethinking of public value in the context of platform scale, inviting readers to consider the future of urban life in an increasingly platform-driven world.
