After Work, Need a 'Drink' at the Regular Spot... Why Young People Are Feeling Depressed These Days [Segye is Zgeum]

The Importance of the 'Third Place' Emerges Amid Generation Z's Isolation
Warning Signs for Generation Z's Mental Health, Including Depression
"Creating a Third Life Through Volunteering and Hobbies Can Help"

Editor's NoteGeneration Z (those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) is gaining attention as a generation that leads culture and trends in a rapidly changing era, creating new standards across society. In [The World is Z Gold], we aim to shed light on the lives and values of Generation Z worldwide and explore how they are transforming society.

TikToker Christian Bonier emphasizes the importance of the 'third place'. TikTok

"We don't have a 'Third place'."

Christian Bonier (24), who lives in Florida, USA, explained on TikTok the reason why Generation Z feels depressed in a video that has garnered over 610,000 views, resonating with young audiences. He explained that in the past, older generations found comfort in social spaces where they could naturally interact with others outside of home and work, but since the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work common, Generation Z has been unable to find a third place, which has contributed to the spread of depression. He emphasized, "The communities that previous generations relied on have almost disappeared for our generation," and added, "As time spent alone increases, anxiety and depression grow, so social activities are essential."

The concept of the third place was first introduced by American urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg. It refers to spaces where people can comfortably gather and interact, such as neighborhood cafes or regular pubs. Oldenburg argued that besides home (the first place) and workplace (the second place), people need a third place where they can naturally meet and communicate. Parks, libraries, and traditional markets fall into this category.

While the third place plays an important role in forming social bonds, analyses suggest that the loneliness of Generation Z, who lack a third place, is deepening due to the development of the internet and digital technology. Time magazine in the U.S. pointed out, "Rising living costs have made leisure time increasingly a luxury, and people spend more time online instead of engaging in face-to-face activities," adding, "As life shifts online, the third places where people of different ages and backgrounds could freely interact have actually decreased." It also mentioned that places like Starbucks or McDonald's, which once served as third places, have now become mere takeout outlets.

As Generation Z, familiar with digital devices, fails to find a third place, the likelihood of feeling lonelier or more depressed has increased. Time magazine analyzed, "While there was hope that online communities would become a new form of third place with the advancement of digital technology, there is a strong correlation between digital technology and loneliness." It further advised, "If the 'third place' is disappearing, we now need to create a 'third life.' Volunteering or starting new hobbies are good ways to do this." It added, "What matters is engaging in activities purely for enjoyment, outside the frameworks of home and work."

Statistics already show that the mental health of Generation Z is deteriorating. According to a survey conducted this year by MetLife, the largest insurance company in the U.S., of 2,964 full-time workers aged 21 and over, 46% of Generation Z workers in the U.S. reported feeling stressed. This is higher than the average of other age groups (35%). Additionally, 35% of Generation Z workers said they had experienced depression, and 44% reported experiencing burnout.

The situation in South Korea is similar. According to the '2024 National Mental Health Knowledge and Attitude Survey' published last year by the National Center for Mental Health under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 27.0% of respondents visited a hospital for mental health issues last year, a 5 percentage point increase compared to 22.0% in 2019, five years earlier. Particularly, the proportion of those who answered that they had received treatment for mental health problems this year was highest among people in their 20s at 36.4%, followed by those in their 30s (29.6%) and 40s (27.5%).

Debates about the third place are also heated on social networking services (SNS). While some argue that the third place has not disappeared but that lifestyles have simply changed, many people strongly feel that there is a lack of spaces where they can comfortably make friends.