How Did the FoMO Concept Emerge?
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) was first mentioned in 2013 when a Wikipedia user published an article discussing the feeling of missing opportunities and relating it to the use of social media. The information was based on the scientific article by Social Psychologist Andrew Przybylski and his collaborators. It is considered a universal phenomenon, perceived in various cultures, and mainly affects the younger population.
How Can FoMO Impact Your Life?
The phenomenon is related to the fear of missing interesting events, social experiences, or other activities in which other people participate. The daily use of social media intensifies the constant search for information, often shared by people about their lives, usually highlighting exciting and joyful moments. This incessant consumption can create the feeling that we are always a step behind and missing out on the best experiences. These comparisons can become incorporated into our behavior, negatively impacting our overall satisfaction with life, mood, and self-esteem. In other words, excessive connection with the virtual world of possibilities can make us feel disconnected, anxious, and inadequate.
Strategies for a More Balanced FoMO Management
Now that we know the history and developments of this phenomenon in our lives, I have listed some strategies that can be beneficial for managing FoMO in our lives:
- Mindfulness on Social Media: Before diving into the feed, take a deep breath. Be aware of your emotional state. Remember that social media is a moment in time, not a complete narrative.
- Disconnect to Connect: Reserve moments of the day to disconnect. This can be challenging, but setting boundaries is essential to maintain balance and perspective.
- Celebrate Your Experiences: Take a moment to appreciate and celebrate your own experiences, no matter how small. Life is a personal journey, not a competition.
- Empathetic Understanding: Remember that social media is often an edited version of someone’s life. Empathize with the joys and challenges of others, but also remember that everyone has their ups and downs.
- Set Offline Goals: Set goals and activities outside of social media. This helps redirect focus to real and meaningful experiences.
Note: My goal with this publication is to encourage reflection on the topic and share some possible strategies. However, you decide what is best for your life. Use this content in the best way possible and tell me in the comments how you felt reading!
Want to know more? Here are the references I consulted during the content creation:
Moura, Débora Ferreira, Moura, Higor De Sousa, Filgueiras, Graziela De Moraes Rubin, Freire, Sandra Elisa De Assis, Negreiros, Fauston, & Medeiros, Emerson Diógenes De. (2021). Fear of missing out (FoMO), social media, and anxiety: A systematic review. Psicología, Conocimiento y Sociedad, 11(3), 99-114. Epub December 1, 2021. https://doi.org/10.26864/pcs.v11.n3.7
Przybylski, A. K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C. R., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1841-1848. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014
Reer, F., Tang, W. Y., & Quandt, T. (2019). Psychosocial well-being and social media engagement: The mediating roles of social comparison orientation and fear of missing out. New Media & Society. 21(7), 1486-1505. doi: 10.1177/1461444818823719
Sites:
Forbes: The Psychology Behind FoMO
PubMed: Fear of missing out (FoMO), social media, and anxiety: A systematic review
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