FOMO Is Real, But It's Not New
Fear of Missing Out—FOMO—has become synonymous with the social media age. But here’s something that might surprise you: FOMO isn’t actually new. What’s new is the scale.
A Very Human Fear
The fear of being excluded from social activities is deeply rooted in our evolutionary history. For our ancestors, social exclusion could literally be fatal. We’re wired to care about what our group is doing.
What Social Media Changed
What’s different now is visibility. Before social media, you might hear about a party you weren’t invited to. Now you see real-time photos, stories, and updates from events happening without you—constantly.
Managing Modern FOMO
Understanding that FOMO is a natural response to an unnatural amount of social information can help us respond more skillfully:
- Recognize the feeling without acting on it immediately
- Remember that curated posts aren’t reality
- Practice intentional disconnection
- Focus on depth of connection over breadth
FOMO is real. But so is JOMO—the Joy of Missing Out. Sometimes the best event is the one you’re not at.