The Digital Third Place: Where Teens Are Building Community Online (and What Parents Need to Know)

The Digital Third Place: Where Teens Are Building Community Online (and What Parents Need to Know)

If you’ve ever watched your teen hop onto a Discord server faster than they’ll answer your text, you’ve probably wondered what is so magical about hanging out online. Today’s kids aren’t just scrolling — they’re building whole communities in digital spaces that feel a lot like the “third places” adults once loved, whether that was the mall, the diner, or a friend’s basement. Those casual, comforting spaces mattered. For Gen Z, many of those plac…

The New Digital Salons: How Online Communities Are Recreating Third Spaces in the Metaverse and Web3

The Disappearing Third Space Ray Oldenburg’s concept of the “third place” refers to neutral gathering spaces, such as coffeehouses, libraries, and parks, where people form meaningful connections outside of their homes and workplaces. These spaces reduced isolation, strengthened social ties, and encouraged civic engagement. However, traditional third places have been disappearing, replaced by commercialization and suburban sprawl. Meanwhile, comm…