,THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT
Abstract
The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) has become an increasingly important psychological and
social issue in modern society, particularly because of the rapid growth of social media,
smartphones and constant online communication. FoMO refers to the persistent concern
that other people may be experiencing rewarding or enjoyable events without an individual
being present. This concern can create a strong desire to remain connected to what other
people are doing (Przybylski et al., 2013). Although people have always experienced
feelings of exclusion or concern about missing social activities, social media has changed
the way these experiences occur. Individuals can now receive continuous updates about
the activities, achievements, relationships and social experiences of other people. As a
result, people may become more aware of experiences that they are not participating in.
This research project examines the Fear of Missing Out and its relationship with social
media use, social comparison, psychological needs and psychological well-being. The
study is based on the view that FoMO cannot simply be explained by excessive social
media use. Psychological factors such as the need for belonging, competence and
autonomy may also influence an individual's vulnerability to FoMO (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
Individuals who feel socially disconnected or dissatisfied with their own lives may be more
likely to monitor the activities of others and may use social media to reduce feelings of
exclusion.
The research proposes a quantitative approach in which information may be collected from
adults or young adults through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire could
measure FoMO, social media use, social comparison and psychological well-being. The
findings may provide a better understanding of why some individuals experience stronger
FoMO than others and how this experience can influence everyday behaviour. The study
may also contribute to discussions surrounding healthy social media use and psychological
well-being.
1. Introduction
, The development of the internet and social media has fundamentally changed the way
people communicate with one another. In the past, people would normally find out about
social events through face-to-face conversations, telephone calls or occasional messages.
Today, individuals can receive updates about the activities of hundreds of other people
almost immediately. A person can open Instagram and see friends attending a party, view
photographs of someone travelling, watch videos of people attending concerts or see
colleagues celebrating professional achievements. This constant flow of information can
create the impression that other people are always doing something interesting.
This environment has contributed to growing interest in the psychological experience known
as the Fear of Missing Out, or FoMO. Przybylski et al. (2013) define FoMO as a persistent
concern that others may be having rewarding experiences without the individual being
present. It is therefore more than simply wanting to attend a particular event. It involves an
ongoing concern about being disconnected from the social experiences of others.
FoMO is particularly interesting because it connects psychological experiences with modern
technology. Social media provides people with opportunities to communicate and maintain
relationships, but it also provides continuous reminders of what other people are doing. This
means that individuals do not necessarily have to be physically excluded from an event to
experience feelings of missing out. Someone sitting alone at home can see pictures of ten
friends having dinner together and immediately feel that they are missing an important
experience.
The experience can also occur when there is no actual exclusion. For example, a person
may decide not to attend a party because they are tired, financially unable to attend or
simply prefer to stay at home. However, after seeing photographs of the event online, that
same person may begin to regret the decision. They may wonder what happened, who
attended and whether they missed something important. In this way, social media can
transform an ordinary decision into a source of psychological discomfort.
FoMO has therefore become an important area of research within psychology. Researchers
have examined its relationship with social media engagement, problematic smartphone use,
social comparison, life satisfaction, anxiety and general psychological well-being (Przybylski
et al., 2013; Elhai et al., 2020). Understanding FoMO is important because it provides
Abstract
The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) has become an increasingly important psychological and
social issue in modern society, particularly because of the rapid growth of social media,
smartphones and constant online communication. FoMO refers to the persistent concern
that other people may be experiencing rewarding or enjoyable events without an individual
being present. This concern can create a strong desire to remain connected to what other
people are doing (Przybylski et al., 2013). Although people have always experienced
feelings of exclusion or concern about missing social activities, social media has changed
the way these experiences occur. Individuals can now receive continuous updates about
the activities, achievements, relationships and social experiences of other people. As a
result, people may become more aware of experiences that they are not participating in.
This research project examines the Fear of Missing Out and its relationship with social
media use, social comparison, psychological needs and psychological well-being. The
study is based on the view that FoMO cannot simply be explained by excessive social
media use. Psychological factors such as the need for belonging, competence and
autonomy may also influence an individual's vulnerability to FoMO (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
Individuals who feel socially disconnected or dissatisfied with their own lives may be more
likely to monitor the activities of others and may use social media to reduce feelings of
exclusion.
The research proposes a quantitative approach in which information may be collected from
adults or young adults through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire could
measure FoMO, social media use, social comparison and psychological well-being. The
findings may provide a better understanding of why some individuals experience stronger
FoMO than others and how this experience can influence everyday behaviour. The study
may also contribute to discussions surrounding healthy social media use and psychological
well-being.
1. Introduction
, The development of the internet and social media has fundamentally changed the way
people communicate with one another. In the past, people would normally find out about
social events through face-to-face conversations, telephone calls or occasional messages.
Today, individuals can receive updates about the activities of hundreds of other people
almost immediately. A person can open Instagram and see friends attending a party, view
photographs of someone travelling, watch videos of people attending concerts or see
colleagues celebrating professional achievements. This constant flow of information can
create the impression that other people are always doing something interesting.
This environment has contributed to growing interest in the psychological experience known
as the Fear of Missing Out, or FoMO. Przybylski et al. (2013) define FoMO as a persistent
concern that others may be having rewarding experiences without the individual being
present. It is therefore more than simply wanting to attend a particular event. It involves an
ongoing concern about being disconnected from the social experiences of others.
FoMO is particularly interesting because it connects psychological experiences with modern
technology. Social media provides people with opportunities to communicate and maintain
relationships, but it also provides continuous reminders of what other people are doing. This
means that individuals do not necessarily have to be physically excluded from an event to
experience feelings of missing out. Someone sitting alone at home can see pictures of ten
friends having dinner together and immediately feel that they are missing an important
experience.
The experience can also occur when there is no actual exclusion. For example, a person
may decide not to attend a party because they are tired, financially unable to attend or
simply prefer to stay at home. However, after seeing photographs of the event online, that
same person may begin to regret the decision. They may wonder what happened, who
attended and whether they missed something important. In this way, social media can
transform an ordinary decision into a source of psychological discomfort.
FoMO has therefore become an important area of research within psychology. Researchers
have examined its relationship with social media engagement, problematic smartphone use,
social comparison, life satisfaction, anxiety and general psychological well-being (Przybylski
et al., 2013; Elhai et al., 2020). Understanding FoMO is important because it provides
