Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is an emotional reaction to believing that others are living a better, more fulfilling life or that important opportunities are being missed. FOMO often leads to feelings such as anxiety, frustration, depression and stress. Someone has a great desire to stay connected with what other people are doing through cyberspace. In general, these FOMO symptoms arise due to the use of social media. This FOMO symptom condition is increasingly attacking, where social media is taking over real life. A person can be said to be FOMO if he experiences an anxiety. The anxiety itself emerges when he has not opened the social media and more concerned with communicating with friends on social media, influenced by other people's uploads, always want to show any of his activities, and feels anxious when few people have seen his social media accounts. For example, when someone wakes up to sleep again, they flock to be the first to upload certain information through their social media. A person's dependence on technology, especially social media, will change how social media is used.
FOMO can be interpreted positively or negatively depending on the situation that is happening. This is inseparable from the massive use of social media. When someone feels left behind with positive information, such as topics in education, humanity, business, etc., he will try to get this information by expanding relationships, reading more, and trying to do positive things that support this. However, it is different with someone who feels left behind with information, such as a person's life, a trend that is developing, etc., which tends to cause excessive concern. This can trigger depression to interfere with productivity.
FOMO encourages one to be the most up to date on everything. Actually, the negative impact of FOMO is largely due to someone wanting to be the most up to date. For example, the younger generation cannot be separated from their smartphones. Starting from waking up, they are already busy with their smartphones. Social media is the most important thing to open, with the aim of getting the latest information about everything. This is what will be the subject of conversation when they meet with their friends. When someone doesn't know about an up-to-date information, he tends not to be considered in the chat. This triggers the emergence of feelings of anxiety, worry, and even depression because of the lack of information.
However, it's different when someone doesn't want to be left behind with information about the opening of new student admissions at a university, that person will continue to follow things related to the registration. In addition, he will prepare everything that is needed both physically and materially. This encouraged him to be more productive in order to participate in the registration. In this case, being someone who is always up to date is not always right or wrong. It depends on what information is being followed. We don't need to be too updated about other people's lives or trends that are destroying the nation. Apart from causing anxiety, FOMO can lead to a consumptive lifestyle for anyone. This is because there are already many social media that make it easier for users to shop. Starting with the trend that was created in a social media, eventually leading users to shop.
As the younger generation, we must be adaptive and always have an open mind regarding all information about us that is positive and increases our productivity. However, there is no need to FOMO about things that are not important and can interfere with our activities and thoughts. We must be wise in using social media both in terms of its function and the ease with which we can get all the information.
