By Betty Kaldas
When found with some free time, people have a multitude of places they typically go. Once done with homework, students tend to head to the mall for access to cool air conditioning and interesting shops. During weekends, parents head to parks with playgrounds with their children to cool down and meet with other parents. To study for an exam, a college student may head to a nearby cafe or library for a quiet environment and accessible resources. All of these places can be defined by the phrase third place.
A third place can be defined as a social place where people can go besides their home (first place) and their work (second place) and gather with other people in a variety of environments. Coined by the sociologist Ray Oldenberg, who wrote about the concept in his renowned book “The Great Good Place”, he describes third places as “a generic designation for a great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.”
Although third places can be found all around us, such as in the school cafeteria, the public library, the Starbucks down the street, or the local gym; we don’t often recognize them as such. The average person may visit a third place once or twice a day, and they’ll never know it. In addition, the use of third places has greatly decreased as our regular time that we use to socialize has decreased.
As a busy student, one may find themselves going to a social place such as the library, coffee shop or bookstore less often than generations of students used to years ago. Our ability as teenagers to socialize in general has significantly decreased since 2003. According to an article by Effective School Solutions, “Between the years of 2003 and 2022, face-to-face socializing among teenagers fell by more than 45 percent. The pandemic explains some of this erosion. When the shutdowns occurred in 2020, people everywhere, and young people in particular, were thrown into silos of isolation.” Due to the pandemic, people’s use of third places has gone away from going for social relief and connection, and have rather become places that people go for the services only.
For example, a student heading to the bookstore for a textbook would usually go and stay for a while, taking their time to look for the textbook and browse other sections of the bookstore. They would talk with their friends or regulars, and make small talk with the cashier about the textbook topic. Nowadays, any student looking for a textbook could order it online with ease, and avoid the social part of buying something in person. Digital services also save a student with a busy schedule time, and allows them to get things done faster and more efficiently.
Due to the isolation people experienced during the pandemic and the digital advances made in the last decade, all services that we use today have become notably easier to access not only in person but also online. Shopping malls, grocery stores, libraries, and fast food restaurants have all been replaced by online shopping sites, grocery apps, online libraries, and food delivery. The places we would typically visit multiple times throughout our week have become deserted, instead being replaced by digital services instead.
But why is this important? Why do we need third places, and why is it important to have them? Well, according to an article by Urban Institute, “Third places have always played an important role in cities by providing a sense of belonging and shared identity.” In third places, people come together to connect and grow as a community, often sharing food, thoughts, or experiences that they enjoy. Those couple hours you spend at the library studying with friends is doing wonders for your mental health, although you may not be aware of it.
“Third places play an important role in our lives by offering a break from the demands of work-home life. […] They help us maintain a healthy work-life balance, providing spaces where we can relax, enjoy ourselves, and engage with different types of people.” said Elena Touroni, a PhD and psychologist.
So next time you go to order something online, study by yourself at your desk, or do a workout at home, consider whether or not you could be doing these things in a third place. Going shopping at your favorite store, studying at the library with your friends, and visiting the gym for a focused environment could just be the highlight of your week.
