Those who wish to be more socially engaged or actively involved in social activities may feel left out, anxious, or like they are not doing enough whenever they see or hear about others traveling, adventuring, and experiencing things they haven’t experienced in their lives.
In many ways, modern FOMO is similar to the long-standing phenomenon of “keeping up with the Joneses next door,” with pressure to match or surpass one’s neighbors’ social status, wealth, and popularity.
Why does FOMO happen?
Anyone can develop FOMO, but some people are at higher risk if they have underlying mental health issues or low self-esteem. Social media isn’t all bad, of course, but it can be particularly harmful if you have a turbulent personal relationship with body image. People with anxiety and depression are especially susceptible to FOMO, and the effects last longer.
“What worries me is that people who are prone to mood disorders like anxiety or depression often withdraw or avoid certain situations, and the way they connect with others may be through social media,” Dr. Sullivan noted. “The human experience is all about connection, so we have an innate need for connection. But for people with anxiety or depression, most of their connection may be through social media.”
A 2017 study showed that the more social media people used each day, the more likely they were to suffer from anxiety disorders, while a 2022 study showed that the more time we spend on social media, the more severe our depression and anxiety symptoms become. While social media may not be going away anytime soon, how and how often we use it can certainly have a direct impact on our ability to experience FOMO.
When our basic needs are not met and we rely on social media to fulfill those needs, this can exacerbate the severity of the symptoms we experience. Research has also conduit china shown that FOMO is a negative emotional state caused by unmet social needs.
FOMO can be most damaging to teenagers or young adults, especially as they are trying to figure out where they fit in their lives and which group they fit into.