Fear of Missing Out FOMO: 13 Mental Health Effects

Fear of missing out (FOMO) is defined as worrying about being absent from or overlooking a rewarding social experience. To avoid “missing out” on these experiences, in modern times, many individuals are driven to stay connected on social media. A skilled therapist, either in-person or via an online therapy platform, can work with you to identify what’s behind your FOMO and how you can go about changing your behaviors in a healthy manner. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques—for example, keeping records of your negative thoughts and reframing them—can help you lead a more intentional life. First, many phones have settings you can turn on to silence messages in a variety of ways. This can mean checking up on what others are doing constantly, or compulsively reaching out to maintain connection.

A pre-requisite for jomo is to learn to value our limited time and how it is spent. In doing so, we create opportunities to experience the joy of being present. We value what we have, rather than worrying about what we may be missing out on.

• With your improved awareness of the relationship you have to technology, you’ll likely have more success moving forward and overcoming FoMO.
• It replaces competency with envy and connection with elation.
• What you’re missing may not be a matter of life or death—a friend’s birthday party, a travel opportunity—but it still makes you feel excluded.
• Humans are social beings who desire group interactions, so the perceived social exclusion may make people unhappier, which means they are more likely to experience FOMO.
• Happiness does not come from comparing ourselves, chasing perceived expectations, or even feeling superior to others.

Symptoms

Although some babies (especially huge surge in britons investing in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin newborns) are happy to sleep most of the day, many little ones show strong resistance to naptime or bedtime. If you are aware of its triggers, and can gently redirect your mind to a more calm place, you will find yourself feeling happier, sleeping better, and being an overall more healthy person. By checking in on social media, we are able to easily access different affiliation groups. We are able to see relatable memes about millennials, make a comment about a TV show that we are a fan of, or watch thought leaders speak live about different topics of interest. These rewards, however small, are addicting and easy to continue chasing. Happiness does not come from comparing ourselves, chasing perceived expectations, or even feeling superior to others.

In many ways, modern day FOMO is similar to the long-time phenomenon known as “Keeping up with the Joneses” — the pressure of having to meet or exceed your neighbor’s social status, wealth and popularity. FOMO isn’t entirely dependent on social media (though, social media is perhaps FOMO’s biggest culprit). Professor Fuschia Sirois from our Department of Psychology explains the joy of missing out and how it impacts wellbeing. This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term.

Emphasize quality time

Not achieving this can spark frustration and rage and lead to a distorted sense of self and reward.2 Posts can become highly edited and filtered versions of reality. It is hard to remember that everyone experiences struggles when all you see are images of perfect bliss. Social media influencers set a high bar with stylized content geared to build audiences and sell products.

How can Social Media Increase FOMO in a Relationship?

Social media often presents a distorted view of relationships. Couples tend to share only the best parts of their lives on social media, presenting an idealized version of their relationship. Thus, we are bombarded with images and videos of couples who are “always” happy, in love, and doing fun things together. Social media enables constant access to others’ lives, promoting FOMO.

Drugs & Supplements

But now, you’ve got a window – a very well-curated one how to buy ultrasafe coin – into other people’s lives all day, every day. While FOMO can interfere with people’s happiness and day-to-day functioning, it’s usually used jokingly (e.g., Just checked Insta and I’m experiencing some major FOMO). This can be seen in meme culture, social media, and even College Humor’s 2013 satirical FOMO Horror Movie Trailer, which got over one million views. Perhaps you’re using drugs, alcohol, or emotional eating to cope with all the negative feelings you experience.

We’ve got all the information you need below—from what exactly a FOMO baby is and the underlying causes, to how to handle your very own little one with ‘fear of missing out. On the flip side, if we see evidence that we are not a part of these affiliation groups – that these groups of friends or music fans are gathered together without us, we feel as if we don’t belong. We feel that if only we were at the event or in the know, we would the javascript beginner’s handbook 2020 edition belong again. In 2013, the year FOMO was added to the dictionary, it was reported that 56% of social media users had experienced FOMO. Those numbers have likely grown between 2013 and the time Coronavirus hit.

A critical review of various research studies discusses how passively scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other sites exacerbates social comparisons and envy. Conversely, actively managing your social media use and content exposure can lead to improved well-being by enhancing feelings of social connectedness (Verduyn et al., 2017). This FOMO can occur if their relationship does not receive the same level of attention or approval from others online. Furthermore, social media can make you feel like you need to be constantly available to your partner online, even when you are spending time together in person. Additionally, among the selected relationship highlights that couples tend to post to social media are their extravagant vacations or lavish dates. The endless stream of romanticized images and heartwarming stories can lead to feelings of inadequacy within one’s own relationship.

About the Time Flow System

This need for relief often leads people straight to their favorite social media apps. “Unfortunately, by seeking relief in this way, we only maintain or even strengthen the anxiety that triggered it in the first place,” says Dr. Dattilo. The compulsion to constantly check social media for notifications heightens anxiety in anticipation of rewards (Billieux et al., 2015). If you are booking a vacation simply so you can upload photos to your social media account, you may be going on vacation for the wrong reasons. You may spend the whole time trying to get the ‘perfect’ photo to show your followers without really appreciating where you are. By prioritizing face-to-face interactions and shared experiences, couples can create a stronger connection and reduce the influence of social media-induced FOMO.

A study that analyzed a survey of 736 college students highlights how individuals tend to present the best parts of their lives on social media (Tandoc, Ferrucci, & Duffy, 2015). This selective self-presentation can lead to unrealistic comparisons and feelings of inadequacy. Sometimes, FOMO leads you to increase your social media use because you think you’ll relieve your FOMO by staying “connected” to people and activities online.

As mentioned earlier, the desire to feel included and updated is natural. Instead, resolve to make progress in shifting your focus to the present. The first step to coping with FOMO involves some self-exploration.

Spending quality time together means engaging in meaningful leisure activities as a couple. Couples can spend quality time together by engaging in shared hobbies, taking leisurely walks, cooking together, or having meaningful conversations without distractions. Social media provides a continuous stream of relationship updates, making it challenging for individuals to disconnect and focus on their own relationship. 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. This exposure to apparent perfection often amplifies the fear of missing out on a more fulfilling partnership (perhaps with a different partner).