What is FOMO? The Acronyms Series

FOMO is Fear of Missing Out

FOMO joined our modern lexicon along with the advent of social media. Honestly, we all have been doom-scrolling incessant reels and Pinterest feeds and refreshed them inconsolably. Then discreetly sigh over what a lovely life is out there and we are missing out on every bit of it!

But Erin Vogel, Ph.D., a social psychologist and an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, says that the feeling of missing out has existed long before social media.

The fear of missing out essentially is the deep desire for “belonging” that influences our self-esteem and identity. Dr Erin Vogel says “When we feel as if we’re part of a community and others approve of us, we feel better about ourselves. When we don’t get that sense of community approval, we feel worse about ourselves.”

Related Reading: What is JOMO?

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