It is important for teens to have access to third spaces. There has been an issue of third space options for teens, some not being able to have access to third spaces, and some not being motivated to have a third space. I think teens should be given more opportunities to have a third space, and be encouraged to have a third space. Teens should be able to have a place with themselves or their friends where they can express themselves freely, socialize, have fun, and develop skills. 

A big reason for teens to have third spaces is so they can be able to socialize. Socializing is an important skill to learn within the youth, they need to be able to communicate with people, make friends, and have experiences you can’t have at school or at home. Because of teens not having third spaces and sitting at home on screens, a growth in social anxiety has been noticed. "Kids are incredibly over-programmed at this point in time” A news story in CBS NEWS’s "Are High school dances a thing of the past," shows that kids are very comfortable with screens, to the point where doing anything else is harder because it makes them seem like they can do everything they need to on a screen. That's why I believe third spaces are important for teens because they can learn and experience that socializing they should have been able to if it weren't for social media and the lack of opportunities.

Developing skills and other abilities from specific activities outside of school or at home, is an important part for teens. Say, a sports team, where you practice and play a certain sport, you develop those skills and have fun as well. Being able to experience these things plays a huge role in growing up because you can gain interests you may want to pursue later in life. After school clubs, like robotics or board game clubs are also great ways to have a third space where you can gain and chase new ideas and interests. 

Adults can also play a big role in third spaces for teens, by overlooking, and teaching or mentoring, the youth while they acquire these skills safely and in a way where they learn as well. “Adults in the spaces we occupy are meant to protect the community and push the envelope to create environments for young people to thrive.” An opinion coming from The Philadelphia Tribune "We can’t blame the youth: Why young people need more than a ‘Third Place’," argued that teens need third spaces where they can expand their knowledge and skills, with adults who already went through some of those same experiences so they can mentor and help these teens. 

Teens need third spaces, and the issue of teens not having access to third spaces should be fixed. Teens need places other than their home and school, away from social media and staring at screens. They need a place to express themselves and have people to talk to and share experiences while gaining new ones. A place where they can gain skills and develop ones they already had, a place where they can be taught. Some of these teens who so desperately need new places to express themselves freely. This problem needs to be solved by adults who take action and start clubs or activities, or parents who encourage their children to go out and play a sport, or a creative activity. Third spaces are important for growing teens and the lack of them needs to change.