The ‘F’ Word

Trigger Warning: mentions of anxiety

Fear of Missing Out – or as this generation calls it – FOMO, is way more common than you might think. In a world which is mostly dependent on the digital and social media, not being able to be a part of an ongoing trend or a digital event often gives people a feeling of discomfort. The fact that everyone is engaging in that trend and they’re not, makes people anxious and leads to FOMO which is nothing but the feeling that you’re missing out on something crucial that others are going through right now.

Since the pandemic broke out in 2020, social media has been thriving. People took over Instagram and started getting more creative than ever. The ban of TikTok in India led to the creation of ‘reels’ on the ‘Gram which only birthed this creativity over and over again. From making baking recipes to transitioning into new makeup looks and fashion videos, productivity was a race no one could seem to win. Not only this, the obsession with social media has been a concern since before the global pandemic. In a world which runs on the number of likes and comments on a particular post, it seems not only difficult but almost impossible to not obsess over something everybody is fawning over. The fact that social media has never been completely transparent explains the amount of insecurity it instills within individuals who highly engage with it. Influencers and content creators have not only set unrealistic and high standards of beauty, they have almost invalidated anyone else being completely unique. However, Instagram is also full of influencers who do the opposite – showing real time pictures of themselves and their bodies. 

Not being able to match up to these standards and not being able to be a part of any ongoing trend on social media deeply impacts its users. Personally speaking, I was tempted to make reels only after I saw a bunch of acquaintances doing it because it did make me feel left out. Not being a part of something eventful feels like you’re missing out on something very huge – as if you had to catch a train that’s leaving the railway platform and you can do nothing but wait for the other one. This goes within saying, but being in a constant state of FOMO induces anxiety on a very high level. 

Contrary to this, many individuals also feel JOMO – Joy of Missing Out. Choosing what one wants to do (or not do) is referred to as JOMO. Disconnecting from electronics allows people to reflect on their lives and reconnect with friends and family.

FOMO has not only been a chronic condition in teenagers, it has also been seen as a new social disorder. From my point of view, I have wasted a lot of hours watching and binging shows only because everybody was watching them; I didn’t want to be left behind in a group discussion where everybody was talking about something I was totally unaware of. During the first lockdown, for instance, everybody was so engaged in finding internships only because all of their friends were doing the same. In such tough times such as a life threatening disease, productivity should not be something to compete over. Thus, FOMO not only leads to burnout and stress, but with the constant need of wanting to be in touch also leads to a negative image of self and a deteriorating self-esteem and mental health.

However, in order to maintain your mental health, you may need to miss out on some things sometimes. The pleasure of missing out is beneficial. Rather than lamenting squandering money and time on frivolous items, it’s important emphasisingthat, in the long term, true satisfaction comes from figuring out what you want to achieve rather than falling to fads and trends.