Hunt Library is one of several third places on Carnegie Mellon’s campus. Photo by Rebecca Devereaux.
For many of us CMU students, it’s typical to spend time between classes at our favorite coffee shops or libraries, where we can spend time with our friends while (hopefully) being productive. These places can all be categorized as “third places”, which are environments separate from work or home that connect us with our community. Third places play a crucial role in fostering organic connections and maintaining physical well-being, especially in older adults.
Last semester, we covered how post-pandemic remote work has popularized in-person co-working places. However, with the closure of several third places and increasing costs, the remaining third places are inaccessible to individuals who lack stable income or transportation. This raises deeper discussions about how communities form — when you remove transportation and money from the equation, where do third places thrive?
The overwhelming answer is virtual spaces. For millions, it takes shape inside one of the world’s largest, and perhaps beloved, social media platforms: ✨Roblox ✨.
Roblox is an online game platform where gamers of all ages can develop and play games created by themselves or other users. Anyone with a Roblox account can self-develop games using Roblox Studio, a one-stop platform to create any experience imaginable. Since its public launch in 2006, Roblox has grown to be one for the largest host of free games on the Internet, servicing over 150 million users every day. Over 70% of Roblox users are under the age of 18. As a result, the platform must toe the delicate line of catering to users of all ages while protecting its younger, more vulnerable players.
![A screenshot of Roblox players sharing a KBBQ meal through the digital experience “Korean BBQ Restaurant [Byungchul's KBBQ]”.](attachment:d0972026-6481-4d9b-83d9-cdee44013170:image.png)
Korean BBQ Restaurant [Byungchul's KBBQ] is a Roblox game that allows its players to share a Korean barbeque together at any time of day.
Several of Roblox’s most popular digital experiences draw from in-person third places, such as a boba shop, and allow players to complete various tasks in exchange for in-game rewards. My favorite role-playing game lets me go through all the motions of meeting up with friends, ordering dishes at a Korean BBQ, eating, and paying a tab— all without worrying about the logistics of travel or the cost of each dish. Korean BBQ Restaurant alone has attracted over 100 million users, with nearly 700,000 players saving the game as a favorite on Roblox. With its focus on interpersonal collaboration and low barrier of entry, the popularity of idle simulations highlights how people seek the same sense of exploration and enjoyment that they receive from in-person third places online.
Walt Disney’s official Roblox Theme Park includes a 1:1 rendering of Soarin’ Around the World, a popular attraction at EPCOT.
EPCOT’s Soarin’ Around the World features a 180 degree projection dome to mimic a flight on a hang-glider.
Many corporations, including Disney, picked up on the popularity of Roblox simulations and published simulations to further their digital outreach. In 2020, Walt Disney Imagineering brought their theme parks to Roblox by publishing an experience where users can ride 1:1 models of real roller coasters, become park passholders, and even get hired a Cast Member.
This YouTube video captured the entirety of NCT 127’s performance, including dynamic movements during the avatars’ rendition of “Kick It”.
Last year, K-pop boy group NCT 127 hosted a concert experience where millions of fans logged on to watch avatars of their favorite idols dance to hit songs. Complete with rendered staging, lighting, video assets, choreography, and even special effects, NCT 127’s concert rivaled the production value of most professional productions.
Roblox even allow users to participate in civic engagement. In the last 5 years, young Roblox users have hosted major protests against police brutality and ICE to make their voices heard. By mirroring real life, Roblox helps young activists process current events and experiment with political expression without the constraints of the physical world.
Many anti-ICE protests on Roblox have taken place in the digital experience Brookhaven, a role-playing game that visually mimics most U.S. suburbs.
As physical third places become harder to access, platforms like Roblox illustrate that nearly every aspect of in-person organizing can now be accessed, replicated, and reimagined online.
