In the previous article, we talked about the societal pressure that impacts mental health but with the growing social media usage, it has become a new form of human interaction and one of the implications of this rapid rise is its effect on mental health.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is relatively a new term that evolved with the rapid rise in social media use and is commonly used among teenagers. It’s very much possible that adults might not understand the term. FOMO is an acronym for Fear of Missing Out. Now, what exactly is this FOMO? We all have experienced a scenario in our lives where we are invited to some event or a party, but because of preoccupation, we turn the invitation down, and later we get these unsettling pangs of missing something out. Likewise, using the latest products which are in the vogue sprout the same feelings of FOMO.
Dr. Dan Herman, a marketing strategist, identified this concept of fear in 1996 that surrounds missing anything out. In the present age of information technology, where information is ubiquitous, fear has grown. Therefore, in 2004 it got impetus with the wider use of social media platforms.
A peculiar thing about FOMO is the fact that people who are most affected by it are the ones who hold much importance to social media. Increased interaction, telling people about the type of fun they are having; more affected are the teens. Generation Z and Millennials are mostly the victims of FOMO. Interestingly enough, many teens in the west do use the term FOMO when they colloquially mean to get something that they badly need.
Suppose we are to ask ourselves whether we experience any sort of anxiety while we use social media. Almost everybody will say, NO! The truth is that there is a strong relationship between anxiety and social media usage. A person observes others on social media and subtly desires to do the same what he or she sees. What might have germinated that desire? It is, of course, fear. At this curve, the matter becomes a subject of interest for psychologists.
There have been studies that hint at the emotions and feelings associated with the need for belongingness. The emotions primarily are negative.
Social deterministic theory best defines the issue of fear of missing out. The theory suggests that a FOMO is negative emotions budding out unmet social relatedness needs.
Protraction of such negative emotions can result in severe psychological issues. A person may be expected to experience mood swings, deflated self-esteem, inferiority complex, anxiety, and depression. Failing to achieve what a person continuously observes on social media causes anxiety. Those who have genetic predisposition have more chances to face anxiety and depression. FOMO can at times get as worse, and a clinical intervention becomes a necessity.
Gary Tang, in his research paper, concluded that FOMO might lead towards radicle behavior among those who are addicted to social media usage.
Likewise, Ben Classen and Jay K. Wood, in their study, described that FOMO has much to do with psychosocial factors like social capital, public self-consciousness, public self-monitoring and psychological need satisfaction.
There is enough evidence that fear is there. Although there are certain gaps that need to be filled, there is convincing literature available that tells the tale of FOMO affecting the behavior.
Social media addiction goes to creates this vicious cycle in which a person is addicted and therefore keeps looking at the posts, which cause him and experience anxiety. The intense social media connection is hard it is to avoid FOMO.
With most of the negative things, which are associated with FOMO, there is also a good thing that James A. Robert and Meredith E. David highlight. FOMO can help foment social connections, which is a positive thing, as we all understand it.
There are, however, ways using which one can cope with the fear of missing out, as it is associated with negative thoughts that come following the feeling of unmet social needs. A phenomenon called reframing comes in handy.
Reframing is a technique that is used to restructure cognition. It can help change negative thought patterns;
First and foremost is to identify the negative and troubling thoughts. Writing the feelings down can help keep the record. Teens and even adults can jot their feelings down that they can keep revisiting. By this simple practice, negative thought patterns could be identified. Once the pattern is identified, one may intervene.
Changing negative thoughts with positive ones comes as a next step. When a negative thought creeps in, it can be redirected by using. Uttering phrases like “I am better, and I can do better” may be useful.
A critical practice that can help address the issues of FOMO is avoiding the use of social media platforms. It seems just running away from the source, but properly scheduled breaks can be helpful. It will address not only the fear but also social media addiction. The times that are saved can be replaced by any other activity like watching a movie or reading a book. Engaging the mind in other activities will vouch for changing thinking patterns.
As Fear of Missing Out has a lot to do with living in fantasy or overthinking about what is happening, a social media user vicariously enjoys the experience. Therefore, he has already potentially crossed those thresholds, which are pretty similar to those hurdles an over-thinker oversteps. A mindset of such sort sometimes detaches a person from reality. A practice of thinking realistically is desirable. Having a practical approach can help address the issue.
Lastly, there should be a focus on what a person does. If he is studying, he must focus on that. Likewise, if he is working, he must be focused. It is always a distracted mind that causes anxiety; a person then goes on to use social media to distract himself from the anxiety. So, it is better to be focused, attentive and mindful.
To conclude, FOMO is a real thing, and it can affect a person psychologically. There are studies that are being carried out in understanding the true nature of fear of missing out and how it can be addressed. Those with predispositions and addiction to social media applications can easily succumb to anxiety and depression following the fear of not having what they see on social networking sites. A positive thinking pattern and controlled usage of technology and focus on life can be fruitful in addressing this seemingly trivial but dangerous phenomenon of fear of missing out.
Ramsha Saghir is a Clinical Psychologist by profession. She is an Intersectional Feminist and writes on gender equality, societal issues and mental health.
