In today’s world, kids are feeling increased pressure to be everywhere, experience everything and live every moment. This pressure, known as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), is becoming a greater problem among high school students mainly caused by the attachment to social media platforms that broadcasts people’s day-to-day lives. While it might seem like a silly concept, FOMO is a serious concern and affects students’ academic performance, mental health and overall well being.
The feeling of missing out on experiences and interactions is a concept that has been around for years, but the term FOMO was introduced in 2004. It was first used by a Harvard student, Patrick J. McGinnis, in an article that got published for the Harvard Business School newspaper, The Harbus. Since then, it has been popularly used throughout pop culture.
Social media platforms are the biggest contributors to the effect FOMO has on kids because it is constantly exposing them to how others are feeling and what they are doing. Even with the communication available through social media, kids are dealing with serious mental health issues due to the constant comparison and feeling of never being as good as others.
The National Library of Medicine explains how the endless checking of social media has caused people emotional distress. They said, “The ‘Round the clock’ nature of this communication may lead to feeling lonely and inadequate through highlighting others’ activities and popularity and comparing oneself to others.” Social media portrays a false reality of life that gives people the idea that they are not living up to the same standards. With this modified version of life, social media provides kids the ability to see what their friends are doing all the time.
OHS senior Juan Patino said, “A time I felt left out was the time when my friends went to Chick-Fil-A without me and went back to one of their houses. I found out about it because of their locations on Snapchat.” Snapchat has a feature where one is able to see other people’s locations if they choose to turn it on. This is an example of how kids can get the feeling of being unwanted or unworthy by being left out.
OHS junior Amelia Baldwin said, “Social media allows people to see what others are doing and sometimes you wouldn’t even know about it until someone posts about it.” When kids are constantly feeling they are missing out, it can lead to feeling lonely, having poor self-esteem and being disconnected from their friends.
The stress FOMO can bring to kids does not only affect their social life but also their student life. The need to be connected to peers and constant reminders from notifications breaks important focus and concentration needed to do schoolwork. Lots of students tend to struggle with the urge to respond to group chats, videos, comments and more.
OHS sophomore Lauren Kollar said, “I am always on my phone checking to see if my friends are posting anything new which distracts me from what I am actually supposed to be doing.” FOMO has increased students’ lack of discipline and prioritization which are crucial life skills. Without them, this can lead to procrastination and the stress of getting work done on time. These factors can cause reduced sleep that is crucial for a teenager’s mental and physical well-being.
FOMO affects each student differently and is something that should not be overlooked. It is important that kids are aware of the consequences they are choosing for themselves and why they might be feeling the way they do. This complex issue can be managed through learning how to handle the pressure to be everywhere and remembering quality experiences are far more rewarding than quantity. The recognition of how important balance is in social and personal life is what will ultimately lead to a happy and healthy life.
