Let's get offline and bring back the culture of the third place

Such places were where our parents and grandparents built strong communities. Today's youth can revive that spirit to restore and strengthen their sense of belonging.

- Nicole Chan

We often see the iconic black barbershop culture in the United States depicted in movies. People of different generations gathering in a lively atmosphere of loud conversations on anything from politics to the personal. It's not just a trim that draws the crowd.

Throughout 20th-century America, these shops not only provided economic opportunities but also served as safe havens for activism and cultural dialogue, influencing trends like hip-hop. Such third places have been key to community building.

Previous generations in Singapore were drawn to their own little sanctuaries between the home and the workplace. I could see for myself how my parents and grandparents built relationships just by showing up at their third places like neighbourhood gathering spots.

When my grandmother took me to art class or piano lessons, we would often stop at a nearby park to chat with the neighbourhood aunties and children.

My father, who grew up in the heart of Chinatown, often shares lively stories about his family's provision shop in Sago Street. People, he would say, didn't just stop by for groceries and leave. They'd hang out and shoot the breeze.

It was, as he describes it, kampung spirit at its best.

Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, the concept of a "third place" refers to informal social settings that foster community outside of the home (the first place) and workplace or school (the second place). Such third places could be cosy cafes, neighbourhood parks or beloved bookstores - environments where the pressure to consume is minimal and familiar faces contribute to a shared experience.

It's a feeling I've come to miss in recent years. And a stark contrast to the disconnected and lonely moments I experience scrolling through social media, where digital connections feel forced and fleeting.