Third spaces are informal, neutral public gathering spaces different from home and work. The availability of these spaces is declining for teens and young adults.
Why?
Because of the rising cost of everything in the United States, and the presence of technology.
Living in America is expensive, making public spaces expensive to exist in as well. Some cafes and bookstores are now requiring those who come in to purchase something in order to stay. Being forced to spend $7 on a drink to hang out in a third space is ridiculous.
Under the current administration, the cost of living has risen exponentially. Housing prices are skyrocketing, gas prices are painfully high, and everything at the grocery store seems to be double what it was only five years ago.
Paying for existing in public is not affordable for a lot of people. Some young people aren’t employed and can’t afford to pay to be in third spaces, making the accessibility of community and social interaction limited.
Everyone should have access to relaxation and communication in these spaces, no matter their finances.
A lot of teens and young adults are in school, making it that much harder to earn money.
I am a full-time student in college and can only work part-time hours at my job. I don’t have the time or the energy to work more than I do because of my obligations outside of work.
That being said, I don’t want to spend money to go hang out with my friends at a cafe. I don’t think we should be expected to buy something in order to be there.
Then there is the issue of technology—specifically, cell phones.
Gen Z is growing up at a time when having a phone on their person 24/7 is normal. We are used to having access to the world beyond us at any moment.
With the rise of social media, people can stay connected with not only friends, but also communities of people just like them.
Why would young people leave their home to sit in a cafe or a park to connect with people around them when they can easily lie in bed and connect with people virtually?
Technology and social media have caused a lack of motivation for young people to go out and explore the world for themselves.
So, if fewer and fewer people are leaving the comfort of their homes to socialize, why should these third spaces continue to exist?
We are seeing a decline in the existence of third spaces because social media and cell phones are the new third spaces. A cell phone is a device capable of accessing communities from the comfort of wherever you are at that moment.
The new hub for communication and community is online, especially on cell phones that are carried everywhere a person goes. With that kind of access, it’s no wonder that the physical spaces are being pushed out, and the virtual ones pushed in.
I think a solution to this ever-growing problem would be third spaces advertised online. If I were to see an advertisement for a third space come across my timeline, I would jump on that opportunity, and I think others like me would do the same.
