The Psychology Behind The Fear of Missing Out FOMO

Social media provides a continuous stream of relationship updates, making it challenging for individuals to disconnect and focus on their own relationship. This exposure to apparent perfection often amplifies the fear of missing out on a more fulfilling partnership (perhaps with a different partner). Social media makes it easy to scroll through curated relationship snapshots and to believe that everyone else is happier, more in love, or experiencing more exciting moments. Low levels of satisfaction with the basic needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness may tend towards higher levels of FOMO than those with their needs met.

Focus on Your Values

In professional settings, FOMO can drive both innovation and burnout. The fear of falling behind in a competitive job market can push individuals to constantly upskill and seek new opportunities. While this can lead to career advancement, it can also result in chronic stress and work-life imbalance.

With this kind of FOMO, we found that the pain of missing out is not related to missing the actual event or opportunity – although that could be there as well. The FOMO we study happens when people miss the chance to bond with friends, co-workers or teammates they care about. FoMO refers to something tangible — seeing a post on social media and wishing you were there. MoMO on the other hand is about the imagined — suspecting that a social event is happening, and you weren’t invited but having no proof.

Talking to your partner about your FOMO can also help them to understand what you are going through and offer support. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram can create an environment where couples feel obligated to showcase their love in particular ways, like posting extravagant date nights or lavish vacations. Social media exposes us to countless idealized relationships, perpetuating the belief that we are missing out on a superior level of love and happiness. If you are continually witnessing these perfectionist portrayals, you may start to expect similar perfection in your own relationships. Those who feel socially excluded may also have higher levels of FOMO.

Fear of missing out on social interactions can foster feelings of social inferiority and loneliness, which may be short-lived or chronic. The term ‘Fear of Missing Out’ (FOMO) was first introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon closely linked to the rise of social networking. It encapsulates the anxiety that arises when individuals perceive that others are having fulfilling experiences that they are not part of. FOMO, or ‘Fear of Missing Out,’ is the anxiety you feel when you believe others are having experiences that you’re not. This article will explain what is FOMO, its causes, and its effects. In moderation, FOMO can serve as a motivator to seek out new experiences or strengthen social connections.

How does FOMO affect your health?

The fear of missing out refers to a constant anxiety that others are having rewarding experiences without you. You may fear that others are having more fun or living happier lives than you. This can trigger feelings of depression or low self-esteem because you may feel like you’re not doing enough to reach your full potential. FOMO can also have a two-way relationship with other negative feelings, such as boredom and loneliness. If you’re feeling lonely, or bored by a task at work or school, for example, it can amplify your feelings of FOMO. At the same time, experiencing FOMO from observing the lives of other people on social media can deepen your sense of loneliness, or make a boring task seem even worse.

To limit the temptation to check your phone, leave it in a different room while you’re eating dinner or doing homework, for example. Or store your phone in a backpack while you’re spending time with friends or at work. As mentioned earlier, the desire to feel included and updated is natural. Instead, resolve to make progress in shifting your focus to the present.

FOMO and Social Media

On the other hand, maybe nothing in particular gets to you unless you scroll late at night or unless you scroll for hours on end. It’s hard to untangle the effects of FOMO from the effects of too much social media use. FOMO isn’t the only social media-inspired emotion people may feel when they see other people’s lives on their phone screens. The general nature of FOMO is an old human problem that is too well-known to economists.

• Making mindful choices that align with your values can reduce social anxiety and feelings of envy.
• This selective self-presentation can lead to unrealistic comparisons and feelings of inadequacy.
• The casual statement from Murphy may have just given traction to a growing cultural shift.
• Managing your fear of missing out is key to maintaining your self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being.
• Setting goals you can achieve can lead to feel-good moments of pride in what you’ve accomplished and encourage you to keep at it.
• This exercise might help you see which relationships and activities you should focus more on than the ones that lead to FOMO.

Social media enables constant access to others’ lives, promoting FOMO. People share only the highlight reels of their lives on social media, making others feel their lives are less exciting (Przybylski et al., 2013). Regret is thought to be the strongest trigger for why people experience FOMO. The fear of missing out can go hand in hand with feelings of regret for missing out.

• We all wish we could say “yes” all the time, but we’re only human.
• Some people handle this on their own, while others benefit from the help of a therapist.
• Those with FoBO are more likely to refrain from commitment or commit and then cancel, Coco Khan writes for The Guardian.
• FOMO and social media habits may contribute to a negative, self-perpetuating cycle.

Recognizing your feelings and setting limits

You might sit alone, feeling envious about how much fun others are having as you scroll through your feed, only to later realize how much time has passed you by. By hands-on reactive programming with java 12 prioritizing face-to-face interactions and shared experiences, couples can create a stronger connection and reduce the influence of social media-induced FOMO. Additionally, individuals may come to rely on likes and comments from others to feel good about themselves and their relationships. This can create a fear of being judged or rejected if they do not get enough positive feedback.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

When you’re preoccupied with what others might be doing, it’s hard to focus on your own experiences and appreciate the moment. This distraction can detract from compare crypto exchange fees to find a better rate your ability to fully enjoy relationships, hobbies, or personal achievements. Limited-time offers, exclusive events, or “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities create the illusion that these experiences are rare, intensifying the pressure to participate or risk feeling regret.

However, it wasn’t until the rise of social media that FOMO became a widespread phenomenon. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram created an environment where people could share their experiences and connect with others in real-time. This constant stream of updates led to a sense of urgency and anxiety among users, who felt pressure to stay connected and up-to-date with events and activities. FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out, is a feeling most people have experienced at some point. It’s that nagging sense of unease when you see others enjoying events, experiences, or opportunities that you’re not part of. In today’s hyperconnected world, FOMO has become a common phenomenon, fueled by social media and the what is cryptocurrency constant visibility of other people’s curated lives.

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Therapy also provides a space to explore self-esteem and self-worth. Many people who struggle with FOMO have underlying insecurities that make them vulnerable to feelings of inadequacy. A therapist can guide you in building a stronger sense of self and focusing on your unique strengths and values. By recognizing the mental health effects of FOMO, you can take steps to manage its impact and refocus your energy on what truly matters to you. By Elizabeth Scott, PhDElizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Rather than focusing on what you lack, try noticing what you have.

Fear of missing out

While it is great to have shared hobbies, respect each other’s individual interests, too. It is healthy to have personal pursuits alongside your joint activities. Focusing on spending quality time with your partner regularly can help counter the effects of FOMO and strengthen your relationship. Limiting your social media use is one of the best ways to reduce FOMO in your relationship. Both partners may experience FOMO, with one fearing the loss of external validation and attention while the other fears missing out on meaningful private moments.