"Great hustle, greater burnout!"—and for so many in Gen Z, that burnout has created more exhaustion, anxiety, and depression. Studies indicate that this generation reports much higher levels of mental health issues than did previous generations.

A new viral debate on TikTok, fueled by the 24-year-old owner of a marketing agency Christian Bonnier, explores one potential explanation for Gen Z's struggles: the absence of a "third place"—a social space away from work and home. His hypothesis, shared in a TikTok video that has already received more than 600,000 views, has struck a chord with many online.

What is a 'third place'?

Bonnier contends that earlier generations had three important places in their lives: work, home, and a community place where they could socialize—whether a pub, golf course or a weekly hobby club. These places, he asserts, gave them a much-needed sense of belonging.

"Our generation is so depressed because we don't have a third place,"

Gen Z depression (2)[Image source - TOI]

Bonnier says in the video. He thinks that contemporary lifestyles have removed public spaces, so many young people are left in between work and home, with not much space for socialization. The growing trend toward remote work has only made the problem worse, contributing to increased isolation.

The idea of a "third place" was first proposed by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1991 book The Great Good Place. He defined it as a casual public setting—like a café, park, or community center—where individuals can meet, mingle, and form social bonds."Life without community has produced, for many, a lifestyle consisting mainly of a home-to-work-and-back-again shuttle," Oldenburg wrote. "Social well-being and psychological health depend upon community."

Social media reacts: Agreement, skepticism, and financial barriers

Bonnier's position has generated controversy as some concur and others feel that the problem runs deeper than mere lack of social areas.

One TikTok user, Teya Felicity, commented, "You can still go to the pub/golf/darts... It's not the spaces that have changed, it's the people... We don't socialize or hang out anymore." Meanwhile, another user, Danielle Rich, countered, "There is no place for young adults (clubs don't count 'cause that's awful) to spend time and make new friends without drinking (which a lot of people now don't do) so it's very lonely."

A number of users cited an increase in living expenses as a chief obstacle to participating in social activities. "We simply can't even afford it." Another added, "Problem is people can't even afford that third place anymore, so they are forced to choose only work and home when work doesn’t pay enough and you scrape by just to afford your home."

How can Gen Z rebuild a sense of community?

Bonnier recommends that people actively pursue social groups to combat the lack of a conventional third place. "People can counteract this by seeking out groups in their area—gym, run club, book club, etc.," he advises.

He also urges a return to communal areas that encourage informal social contact. "Bring back the local pub. Bring back the darts leagues. Bring back the golf leagues. Go outside of your work, outside of your house, and do something regularly that makes you feel part of something."

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