The author shared this gift link on Twitter/X: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/america...

The conversation around this topic usually goes to the lack of third spaces. Yes, it's true that this avenue of meeting people is declining and the cost of going out is increasing. I don't see any reason why this trend will change any time soon since the markets have decided that third spaces are not valuable.

I'm interested in thinking about how we can encourage social connection in a post third space society. I've been working on a project that helps people connect around hobbies in small groups of 4-5 people. The small size makes it easier for people to host at someone's place rather than requiring a public space. I think shared activities are a natural glue to have repeated consistent interactions which is key to building friendships.