Published: 12:29 AM, 06 November 2026
Is Social Media Really to Blame for Fear of Missing Out?
Poulomi Roy
A few days ago, a trend went viral on social media: The '80s photo trend. It rapidly spread across Instagram and Facebook. High-profile figures, actors and celebrities shared their '80s retro looks, and eventually, almost everyone joined in by posting their own retro photos. Suddenly, I also felt the urge to edit a photo of myself just to join the trend. But then I stopped and asked myself, How many of us are doing this because we genuinely enjoy it, and how many are doing it because we fear missing out on something?
This feeling is known as FOMO, or the fear of missing out. It is the feeling that other people are celebrating something exciting, trending or valuable while you are missing it. Because of social media, our life has become a competition--a competition to showcase our best parts to others. When we are at an event, for example, we often become busier taking photos and thinking about posting them rather than enjoying the moment. This tendency may happen because social media encourages us to compare ourselves with others. Social media has turned our lives into an open gallery. We constantly see where our friends are, whom they are meeting, what they are enjoying. This constant exposure can lead us to compare our own lives to others. We may begin to wonder whether we are enjoying our life as much as they are or whether we are missing out on something.
This is where the FOMO, or the fear of missing out can come into play. When we attend an event, we may feel compelled to take photographs and post them online to demonstrate that we too are having fun. In some cases, this urge may stem from a desire to keep up with others, gain social approval or avoid feeling left behind. Because we worry that staying silent will make us look disconnected, irrelevant or left out of the social loop. That's why when the '80s photo trend became popular on social media, I would not say everyone joined in because of FOMO, but a large portion jumped on it just out of the fear or anxiety that being absent might mean being uncool or losing an important experience. This raises an important question: Is social media really to blame for FOMO?
FOMO is not limited only to ongoing trends, parties or social events. It can appear in academic, career and travel life as well. Students may experience academic FOMO when they see that their friends are getting high grades, winning competitions or receiving scholarships. Career FOMO can happen when someone sees another student announcing a job. Similarly, travel FOMO occurs when people see their friends are visiting beautiful destinations.
One of the biggest reasons social media creates FOMO is that people usually share only the best parts of their lives online. Instagram feeds are filled with beautiful vacations, parties, achievements, expensive restaurants, and exciting experiences. What we usually do not see are boring days, failures, personal problems, financial difficulties or moments of loneliness. As a result, we may compare our real life with others' highlights. Another important factor is the way social media platforms are designed. Notifications, like, comments, stories, reels and trending topics encourage users to check their phones repeatedly. Thus, they may open their phones just to check one message and get trapped in endless scrolling. As they move from one post to another, they may discover gatherings they were not invited to, opportunities they did not know about, or experiences they wish they could be a part of. The more they see, the more they may feel that something important is happening without them.
However, blaming social media completely would be unfair. FOMO is not a modern disease. It existed even before the internet. Fomo is an ancient human instinct. People have always compared themselves with others and worried about being excluded. Social media has just increased the scale and speed of comparison. Anyway, the real problem may not be social media itself, but how we use it. Social media can also help people stay connected, learn new skills and express creativity. We need to keep in mind that everything has its advantages and. drawbacks. We just need to accept the positives and avoid the negatives.
There is an opposite concept of FOMO. It is called JOMO-the Joy of Missing Out. JOMO means feeling comfortable while we are not participating in everything. We do not have to attend every party or follow every trend. Sometimes, staying at home, spending time with family or simply taking a break from social media can be more meaningful. People can manage FOMO by remembering that social media is not a complete picture of someone's life. Limiting unnecessary screen time, focusing on personal goals and building genuine relationships can help create a healthier balance. Social media does play a significant role in creating and increasing FOMO, but it is not the only cause. Our natural desire for acceptance, comparison and validation from others also contributes to the problem. Social media has just made it easier to see what everyone else is doing.
Social media has become an important part of our daily lives. Nowadays, people use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X to communicate, share ideas and stay updated. One of the most common social media trends is short-form video content, such as reels, shorts, and TikTok videos. People also enjoy sharing photos, stories, memes and personal experiences. Influencer marketing is another popular trend, as many brands promote their products through famous content creators. Online challenges, viral dances, hashtags and trending songs attract millions of users. Live streaming and online shopping are also becoming increasingly popular. Many people use social media for education, entertainment, business and news. However, these trends sometimes encourage excessive screen time and the spread of false information. Therefore, users should use social media wisely and responsibly. Overall, social media trends continue to change our lifestyles and connect people around the world.
The solution of FOMO is not necessarily to delete every social media application. Instead, we need to develop a healthy relationship with technology and learn when to disconnect. Our Life is not a competition. Sometimes the best thing we can do is put down our phones; stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and enjoy our own lives. Perhaps the biggest thing we are missing out on is not another trend or party, but the opportunity to enjoy our own lives and present moment.
Poulomi Roy is a Class XI
student at Netrakona
Government College, Netrakona.
