The Fourth Place

In the previous newsletter, we delved into the spatial distinctions of first, second, and third places within the context of human geography – identifying the home as the first place, the workplace as the second, and social gathering spots like cafes and parks as the third. There is an emergent concept that is now encroaching on the former three categories: the fourth place (how original!).

Unlike the first three types of places, which are distinct physical spaces, the fourth place reflects a more intangible space: the digital realm. Whereas the term third place was clearly coined by Ray Oldenburg in 1989, the term fourth place has emerged more organically over time in reaction to the increasing amount of time we spend engaging, swiping, and conversing in virtual environments.

I do have some concerns about labelling the digital realm as the fourth place. A ‘place’ traditionally refers to a geographic context – something that can be contained within material boundaries. The digital realm transcends boundaries;  geographical, physical & temporal ones to name a few. So, the fourth place should be more like a ‘space’ – an abstract, easily moveable dimension that could be entered from any place within reach of digital connection.

Whether the digital realm is referred to as a place or space is somewhat of an important distinction. The very ‘space-ness’ nature of the virtual realm allows it to exist everywhere and nowhere at the same time. This characteristic has significant implications for how we experience places (I’ll show you why!). But, for the consistency of the framework, and in keeping with the convention of the first three categories, I’ll keep referring to the digital realm as the fourth place in this newsletter edition.

Cloud Formation

People have to physically travel in order to experience places; workplaces, homes, social places of gathering, etc. The fourth place on the other hand is like a cloud that can form above any type of place – you don’t have to physically travel to experience it. The fourth place can form itself on-demand, making it accessible from anywhere to experience as long as there is internet connectivity.

Now, the thing with clouds is that they produce rain, and when it rains, it pours. So too with the impact of the virtual realm: when there is internet connectivity, the virtual space pours into the physical spaces. The raindrops trickle down in the form of pings, alerts & notifications, raining down on anyone in their path.

Research shows that, on average, people open up their phones about 150 times a day. Each time we engage in this activity, it means that our awareness shifts from being conscious in the physical place, to being absorbed into virtual space. The fourth place is pouring its influence into how we experienced our places of home, work and social gatherings.

We need umbrellas!

The fourth place is pouring its influence into how we experienced our places of home, work and social gatherings.

Umbrellas

The Fourth Place is not just raining its influence on physical spaces, filling them with digital experiences. Due to the fluid nature of the digital realm, it can infiltrate our lives at any time, making it hard to set clear boundaries and easy to spend more time online than intended—whether on TikTok, Netflix, emails, or any other type of virtual platform.

So yes, we do need umbrellas.

Fourth Place Umbrellas

Back in 2022, founders Jordy and Ilya were thinking along similar lines and started creating such an umbrella. Well, perhaps they were not thinking about umbrellas per se, but certainly about the impact of the digital world on our lives and daily experiences. Inspired by the idea of taking time off to read and disconnect completely from technology, the founders organised their first retreat in October 2022 in a nature house in the Netherlands. Het Leesweekend was born.

But that was not all. Ironically, just a few months ago, their new offline-concept went viral: The Offline Club.

Image credits: The Offline Club

The Offline Club

I happened to be in the Netherlands at the right time to experience the Offline Club’s expansion into Utrecht and had the opportunity to interview one of the co-founders Valentijn. In just a few months time, their Instagram grew from virtually zero to now more than 200k followers from all around the world, with some reels being seen more than 20 million times. Their Digital Detox events are also popular offline, drawing full venues. What is it that makes their concept so popular? Needless to say, I was incredibly excited to find out for myself what the hype is about.

I arrived at the really cute, charming, laid-back, cosy, and ‘gezellige’ cafe where The Office Club’s Digital Detox Hangout would take place. Phones were handed in straight away and kept safely stored at their sophisticated ‘Phone Hotel’. Then the fun began! Jordy opened the night by sharing the purpose of the Offline Club and the format for the night which is intentionally curated to provide both ‘time for yourself’ as well as ‘time to connect’ with others if you so choose.

During the ‘time to yourself,’ many people were engaging in creative activities such as drawing, knitting, and reading. Whispering was also allowed. It was beautiful to sit there with a large group of people in a relatively silent environment. It was also a little awkward, especially as I had invited some of my close girlfriends. Can you imagine how hard it was for us not to chat too loudly, considering we are childhood best friends, reunited briefly as we all live in different countries?

Photo credits: The Offline Club

At one point, a stranger approached our table, carrying a sketchbook and a case of pencils. He seemed curious and intrigued. He told us he had been observing us and was wondering why we would have chosen this venue to catch up together? Five ladies bursting with excitement to share stories, yet confined by the quiet whispering guidelines of the event. He ended up taking a seat with us, peacefully continuing his drawing, eavesdropping on our conversations, and grinning at times. His presence added a unique dynamic to our evening, and by the end of the night, we felt a shared connection through the ‘silent’ understanding of enjoying the moment.

And that is exactly the beauty of the Offline Club. Whether you come alone, with a group, or with a partner, it’s a place to recharge and connect. It’s a place to fill your cup, your way. It’s about creating a community away from the digital distractions. A place that’s shielded from the rain of the virtual realm, but where the barriers to real connection are lowered.

Unplug for rainy days

The fourth place is ubiquitous. We can’t quite live without it anymore – but we don’t have to live there. It’s ok to miss it, take a break and log off. I mean… who doesn’t love the comfort of knowing you have an umbrella when a downpour starts and you snap it open to protect yourself from the deluge? That relief is eerily similar to the recharge we feel when we take time away from the fourth place.

I’m very keen to know – what kind of real world concepts have you seen that help us unplug from the fourth place?