Where do teens go to hang out when they’re not at school, work or at home? Popular places to hang out for teens include the mall, the movie theater and the arcade. However, these places can end up costing over $20, which can be too expensive for teens, especially if they do not have a job.
These locations are known as “third places,” which are any places outside of work/school or home. Third places are a core setting for public life and they offer connection, community, and sociability, according to the Shanker Institute.
Third places for adults include bars and nights out, but third places for teens are lacking, leaving them without an accessible place to hang out that isn’t their house. In the 1980s and 1990s, roller rinks and shopping malls were common. Now, most roller rinks are out of business, and shopping malls are growing increasingly expensive. “The mall has a much younger student population and Rio has some nice restaurants but it has that weird curfew,” junior Shayna Kreiser said.
Third places help students by creating positive associations with school and academic responsibilities. Students who take part in third places are less likely to drop out by almost 7%, have higher standardized test scores in reading and math, and have higher GPAs, according to the Shanker Institute. They also decrease the risk of violent and risky behavior and juvenile arrests.
Not having a place for teens to hang out can cause stress on friendships and cause them to lose valuable moments. For example, if there is nowhere for teens to go to hang out, “We might not get as much time to talk and catch up,” junior Sofia Escobar said.
The percentage of high school students who hung out with their friends in person “almost every day” dropped from 44% in 2010 to 32% in 2022, according to the Hill; 55% of teens spend time with their closest friends online on a regular basis, according to Pew Research Center. “Friendships can get boring when there aren’t different and exciting places to explore and make more memories,” junior Sophia Missoi said.
Even if there were more affordable places for teens to hang out, it can be difficult for teens to access these places if they don’t have a car or a ride. Most towns in the United States have limited public transportation and although Montgomery County offers free bus rides to all students, transportation is still limited as bus stops are spread over the county.
With nowhere to hang out, teens go to social media for a digital third space. However, this often promotes more of an individualistic lifestyle, because instead of spending free time with family and friends, teens are scrolling on their phones at home. This can also cause feelings of isolation and loneliness for teens. “I think it can make life less enjoyable when you want to hang out with your friends to escape the responsibilities and tasks of high school but there’s no free open place to do so,” Missoi said.
