The explosive growth of mass media has led to rapid spread of information and knowledge, which also has led to the formation of "fear of missing out" syndrome in today's society. This syndrome is growing bigger and faster, with no signs of stopping, and there are more and more pessimistic signs showing that this syndrome negatively affects our lives’ quality.
What is “Fear of Missing out” syndrome?
“Fear of Missing out” (FOMO) syndrome is a phenomenon when a person feels anxiety, often aroused by posts and information seen on social media, that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere and they might miss it.
“Fear of Missing out” syndrome is often associated with low social status perception, which can cause anxiety and self-deprecation. When a person misses a party, holiday or social event, they will feel less prominent than those who attend these events. In some cases, people are even afraid to miss unhealthy activities.
Recently, researchers have examined the level of "fear of missing out" in people through surveys, including questions that checked the frequency of being interested in social events, the way a person is anxious when he has missed an event, a party or when his friends go out without them.
The results show that “Fear of Missing out” syndrome is most common in people aged 18 to 33, two thirds of people in this age group said they have felt fear of being left out, ignored or forgotten about. The survey also found that “Fear of Missing out” syndrome is more common in men than women, although the reasons remain unclear.
This research shows that “Fear of Missing out” syndrome can negatively affect psychological health. Continuous fear of missing out on participating events can lead to feelings of vulnerability, a sense of inferiority, and therefore make people feel anxious and ashamed. Anxiety, shame or inferiority can lead to depression, especially among young people who have not yet established themselves. Psychologists say that concerns about missing out can be a type of cognitive distortion that causes unreasonable thoughts, such as one believes that his friends hate him if they do not invite him to a meal and this easily leads to depression. This syndrome is also manifested in envious people who always claim to be better than others, and they feel frustrated or angry when someone is better than them in some particular aspects. Ambition and excessive expectations are also a motivating force for young people to be afraid of missing out.
However, according to some psychologists, “Fear of Missing out” contributes to the development of social media because people feel the need to use technology to know what is happening elsewhere. Moreover, the “Fear of Missing out” is formed to enhance the connection with others, encourage people to participate in social activities and to motivate them communicate with friends.
So, it can be said that anything has good and bad sides; the important thing is to keep the rational level of balance. When the stress is mild, it can motivate people to work hard and does no harm. But if it gets any heavier, the benefits will be much less than the cost. It is essential to keep balance in your life.
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