Why are Third Places Important?
Having spaces designated for social gatherings, forming relationships, and creating new experiences is very beneficial to mental and emotional wellbeing. In an age where most of our communication is online, face-to-face communication is more critical than ever. According to the National Library of Medicine, in-person communication is associated with stronger social connections than its online counterpart. This makes third places key for people to connect and develop relationships with stronger bonds.
The importance of a third place is not only to meet with friends in person and develop a closer relationship, but also to broaden your social circle by interacting with people you may not know. By hanging out with friends in a public place, it is more likely that you will have interactions with people beyond your group of friends, leading to more diverse interactions and the ability to connect with even more members of your community.
Why are Third Places Disappearing?
Unfortunately, the number of third places has been steadily decreasing in recent years. With the popularity of social media, text-messaging, and video calls, more and more people are choosing to stay at home rather than venturing out into their local shops or clubs. According to Business Insider, the amount of time that people spend hanging out with friends in the average week has decreased from 6.5 to 4 hours from 2014-2019.
This shift from in-person hangouts to digital communication has been occurring steadily since the introduction of social media platforms, but the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a catalyst in this change. Self-isolation and quarantining during COVID caused a large disconnect between friends and family. According to the National Institute of Health, this isolation caused an increase of loneliness and poor mental health. Ironically, the disappearance of third places is caused by the same online isolation that makes them so important. So, if the need for socialization is higher than ever, why are third places disappearing?
Many places for socialization such as coffee shops, restaurants, or clubs have become too expensive for the average person to afford on a regular basis. People can spend anywhere from $3 on a cup of Starbucks coffee to more than $7 for a specialty drink, which adds up quickly for frequent Starbucks customers. Because of the combination of online isolation and rising prices, third places have less and less visitors each year. Without the support of patrons they cannot stay open and often disappear.
Students Share their Favorite Third Places
Carter Smith, ‘28, says that one of his favorite spots to hang out with friends is Deephaven Beach. Smith attributes his fondness for this beach to its proximity to him and his friends. “All my friends [and I] live close to [the beach] so it’s easy for us. I’ve also been there so many times [with] my friends; we all have a great time there.” Smith says that he’s reminded of all of the great memories he’s had at the beach with his friends.
Kaili McNutt, ‘26, shares that one of her favorite places outside of school and her home is The Lobby in downtown Excelsior. “The vibes there are just amazing,” she notes. “They always have the best music playing… and the workers there are so nice, they put music on [for me] when I was there one time.” She also shares that Noerenberg Gardens in Orono are “a great place to go in the fall.”
Tyler Mignone, ‘28, recalls spending his summers at Tommy’s Tonka Trolley looking out at Lake Minnetonka. “The ice cream is good there, and it has a really good view. It always gives me good vibes.” Mignone has been regularly going there since he was a kid, and loves to use his time there to connect with his loved ones. “I remember when I was a kid sitting there and eating ice cream with my friends and family. It was fun.”
What can be learned?
Third places are especially important for students during the school year. They create a better balance between school and life. They help people, children and students especially, to decompress and relax, and allow for a break in the routine of work and chores that is associated with being at school or at home.
Third places are vital in an age when the mental health of students is declining. Third places are also a great resource to better academic performance. According to the Albert Shanker Institute third spaces help students to build confidence, social skills, and real world experience that can dramatically improve understanding of school materials. They found that spending time outside of school or your house actually makes you a better student.
Many people also like to use these places to study or to get their work done, finding that a change of scenery is very helpful for getting their work done. So whether they are being used for strengthening a school-life balance or to improve academic achievement, third places are a great resource for students this school year.
