JOMO VERSU FOMO ON SOCIAL-MEDIA

JOMO VERSU FOMO ON SOCIAL-MEDIA

18 May, 2025

Those who monitor people die or worry and grief, or may develop FOMO.  This syndrome has become more prevalent with the emergence and proliferation of social media platforms, which allows us to monitor and track the events, daily lives and details of others.  This can lead to fear and anxiety about missing out.  This increases our ability to stay online and…most of the time.

FOMO

FOMO is an acronym for “Fear Of Missing Out”, which refers to the fear of missing out on something, an event or an opportunity.  The term originated in a 1996 research paper coined by marketing strategist Dan Herman, who observed that people panic about missing out on certain products, especially those on sale.  However, the FOMO phenomenon wasn’t widespread at the time, as people’s aspirations and needs were modest and unassuming.

However, with the emergence of Social-Media in the 2000s, FOMO became more prevalent and has been identified as one of the biggest causes of social anxiety in the current generation.  This is because the proliferation of Social-Media has given everyone the opportunity and ability to monitor and compare the lives of others, which can leave us feeling like we are not spending our time well and unable to make it enjoyable!  This in addition to the constant feeling of missing out socially and educationally and that we are not making the right decisions.

FOMO is a cause of divorce for many couples, due to observing the lives of other couples, especially influences, and believing that their marriages are perfect and happy, unlike ours!  This leaves us with regret and missing out on a false sense of marital happiness!

JOMO ISTEAD OF FOMO

A study showed that 56% of Social-Media users suffer from FOMO.  The associate negative feelings were distributed as follows:

• 39% feel envy.
• 30% feel jealous.
• 21% feel disappointment and sadness.

Because happiness can sometimes lie in letting go of things rather than in attaining them, experts suggest that as a solution to the FOMO problem, you should become a JOMO, short for the phrase “Joy Of Missing Out”.  This involves not worrying about the occasions or interactions you’ve missed on Social-Media and focusing on the reality you are experiencing.

5 Tips to overcome FOMO

The beginning of the solution to overcoming FOMO is by acknowledging the problem, in addition to:

1. Practicing Mindfulness. This involves focusing on the present moment and the current experience, living it with full awareness and enjoying every detail, rather than dwelling on events you have missed or will miss.
2. Stay away from mobile phone for specific periods of time and limiting your browsing of Social-Media.
3. Quality matters more than quantity. This means focusing on the quality of the experiences and events you experience throughout your day, not their quantity.  Don’t be sad about the occasions and events you’ve missed, because it is impossible for you to attend them all.
4. Increase your sense of gratitude and contentment for all the blessings God has bestowed upon you. Thank him and be content with your life, instead of focusing on the lives of others on Social-Media and lamenting the experiences and adventures you’ve missed.
5. Always remember that you are more powerful than advertising offers. Don’t buy a product just because it has a tempting discount.