FOMO

It starts with you sitting at home, probably procrastinating doing homework. You look at a friend's story, a party you weren’t invited to, or maybe even just a regular hangout. Suddenly you feel it, that uneasy pit in your stomach, you're not sick, you're feeling FOMO. It doesn’t matter if you even wanted to go in the first place; you start overthinking your whole life, your friends, your social life, when it's really just people eating chips in a circle.  

You might be asking, “What even is FOMO?” Well, FOMO is the acronym for “fear of missing out,” and it involves anxiety and unease about how others might be having more rewarding experiences than you. In other words, it’s just the feeling or thought that somebody else, even if they were a friend, could be having a better or more fun experience than you.

FOMO isn’t unique to the online world. You might feel it when friends tell you about an exciting vacation they’re about to go on. However, social media usage tends to worsen FOMO. That’s because, at any time of day or night, you can scroll through your feed and fixate on what’s happening in the world and what other people are doing without you.

FOMO can show up in many different ways. It could be a thought that enters your mind after seeing something you wish you were a part of, like a video of a concert or a party. Or it can manifest as an urge to constantly check your phone for notifications or updates. 

If this sounds like you, you’re certainly not alone in these habits. In fact, you probably know lots of people who always seem to be glued to their phones, whether in class or anywhere else. 

A fear of missing out can distract you from the present moment, and also have a significant impact on your well-being. It can lead you to neglect self-care, relationships, and school responsibilities. It can also trigger negative emotions, such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

So why do humans get FOMO? Well, people are social animals, and we’re hardwired to fear exclusion. For early humans, being included in group activities like hunting was necessary for survival. This is why rejection can be such a painful experience; the brain is wired to seek a sense of belonging and acceptance by others. The fear of missing out is a product of that instinctual craving to be included. 

Today, we live in a world of extreme interconnectivity. There’s always access to information through the internet and social media. So, there’s always a chance to compare your life to someone else’s, and always a chance to see events that you’re missing out on.

What you’re missing may not be a matter of life or death; maybe it's a friend's birthday party, or a hangout, but it still makes you feel excluded. And seeing a story of another person’s life can make you feel envious, even if those posts don’t reflect reality.

Wanting to feel included is normal. But when you let your fears run wild, you can get caught in a cycle of social media addiction and negative emotions, unfairly comparing your life to other people’s lives.

Remember that you’re not alone in experiencing FOMO. However, it doesn’t have to loom over you. Consider that the things you’re “missing out on” might be right in front of you at this very moment. You can pull yourself back to the present moment, appreciate what’s happening in your life, and have a better sense of well-being.

Written By: Rohini Velar

Edited By: Anastasia Biniasz