Never Post What Kind of Place is the Internet?
Feb 19, 2026
Charles Soukop, a communication professor who studied virtual third places, and Katherine Dee, an internet culture writer known for essays on the internet’s placeness, discuss how to picture the web. They trace tactile early computer rooms to always-on connectivity. They debate whether online spaces feel like community third places, standardized non-places, or an otherworld accessed through portals.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Computer Room As Portal
- Mike Rugnetta and Katherine Dee describe the 'computer room' as a dedicated, cluttered space where early internet use happened.
- That room functioned as a portal and made logging on feel like a deliberate, trance-like journey.
Virtual Third Places Resemble Clubs
- Ray Oldenburg's 'third place' fits some online spaces like forums and chat rooms but not all.
- Charles Soukop found early virtual third places offered localized, informal community but lacked physical locality.
Scale Breaks Third-Place Dynamics
- Scale and platform design undermine the internet's ability to be a true third place.
- Large social platforms prioritize predictability and attention over small-group community dynamics.