An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Social Media As A Social Space And Tourism Decision-Making Among Generation Z In Bengkulu City

.Social media has increasingly evolved into a digital social space that enables Generation Z to interact, construct identities, and exchange meanings through visual content and online conversations. This study aims to analyze the relationship between social media as a social space and tourism decision-making among Generation Z in Bengkulu City. A quantitative research design with a correlational approach was employed, involving a sample of 384 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed through validity and reliability tests, classical assumption testing, linearity testing, and Pearson correlation analysis. The results indicate a positive tendency in both the utilization of social media as a social space and the tourism decision-making process among Generation Z. Pearson correlation analysis yielded an r value of 0.792 with p = 0.000, indicating a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between the two variables. This finding suggests that higher levels of digital engagement and interaction on social media are associated with stronger tendencies among Generation Z to shape tourism interests, preferences, and actual travel decisions. The study confirms that social media functions as an interactive arena that significantly influences tourism decision-making processes through digital communication dynamics and information exchange within online communities.