Fear of missing out (FoMO)
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is a social anxiety stemming from the perception that others are having more fulfilling experiences or opportunities. This feeling is often heightened by social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where users are constantly exposed to curated highlights of their peers' lives. FoMO can result in stress, sadness, and feelings of isolation, as individuals grapple with envy and a sense of urgency to participate in events they might be missing. It may also lead to compulsive behaviors such as frequently checking social media to stay updated.
Historically, FoMO echoes the concept of "Keeping up with the Joneses," where comparison to others drives a desire for better experiences. In the brain, FoMO triggers the amygdala, activating a stress response when individuals feel excluded. While it often causes anxiety and second-guessing of decisions, FoMO can also motivate some to seize new opportunities. To mitigate its effects, individuals are encouraged to recognize the exaggerated nature of online portrayals and focus on personal happiness instead of comparisons. Embracing the "Joy of Missing Out" (JoMO) can serve as a healthier alternative, promoting mindfulness, self-acceptance, and engagement in real-life experiences.
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Fear of missing out (FoMO)
Fear of missing out (FoMO or FOMO) is a type of social anxiety. It is a feeling of not experiencing what a person's peers are experiencing, or of not having what they have. People who use social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter are at risk of experiencing FoMO as they see their connections' posts and photographs and may feel that their "friends'" lives are more fulfilling than their own. FoMO can lead to stress, feelings of unhappiness, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. However, it may also motivate a person to pursue an opportunity he or she might have overlooked.
Overview
FoMO is not a new notion. It can be compared to the "Keeping up with the Joneses" concept, in which people are always comparing themselves to others and striving for something bigger and better. Modern FoMO intensified because of the advent of social media networks, which give individuals access to information about others and allow them to follow other people's lives.
People with FoMO typically get feelings of envy and jealously while looking at online posts and photos of their peers—whether they be of a check-in at a restaurant or photos of a group of friends hanging out together. Studies have shown that many people, especially young adults, have admitted to having feelings of FoMO.
FoMO leads individuals to have anxiety about missing events that they deem as important. It causes stress, sadness, and loneliness and makes people feel left out or unimportant. The amygdala in the brain responds to feelings of stress. When individuals feel like they have been left out of plans, this activates the amygdala to produce the "fight or flight" response. This is why the body perceives missing out as a bad feeling. Some people develop unhealthy patterns to cope with or avoid having this response. FoMO may lead to obsessive behavior such as compulsively checking social media sites to ensure individuals know what is going on and do not miss any events.
FoMO also can impair a person's ability to make choices, even simple ones such as choosing a restaurant. It can make people question every choice they make and fear that they might make the wrong decision and pass over a better opportunity. FoMO might also cause people to agonize over past decisions and wonder what might have been if they had made a different choice. This is sometimes called fear of better options, or FOBO.
To combat FoMO, individuals need to realize that not everything people post on social media sites is true. Many people tend to exaggerate to make their lives seem better. They need to realize that no one is perfect, even if a person tries to make it look that way. People should stop comparing themselves to others and instead focus on what makes them happy. In addition, individuals should limit the time they spend on social media sites. Instead of feeling bad about missing an event, they should put down their phones and actually take part in an experience of their own. In contrast, FoMO may also help people to pursue opportunities that might have otherwise missed. For example, individuals may see others going back to school or participating in a hobby that could inspire them to do the same.
Some psychologists and doctors have suggested that embracing what they call "the joy of missing out" (JoMO or JOMO), is an emotionally intelligent antidote to FoMO because it allows people to be themselves in the present moment. Strategies for embracing JoMO include making time for activities that align with personal priorities; living in the present; taking time off from social media to experience real life offline; saying "no" more often to requests from others; and slowing down to focus on one's thoughts.
Bibliography
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