0586 FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

Explanation

An acronym standing for Fear Of Missing Out.
It describes the anxiety or feeling that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media.

Origin

The term gained significant traction in the early 2000s and was popularized around 2004, coinciding with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook.
Marketing strategist Dan Herman is often credited with coining it in the late 90s/early 2000s.
It captures the modern anxiety fueled by seeing curated highlights of others' lives online, leading to feelings of inadequacy or regret about one's own choices or activities.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Feeling left out
Jelly (Short for jealous)
Butthurt (More about being annoyed/offended, but can overlap if feeling excluded)

Milder/Standard:

Feeling regretful (about not participating)
Wish I were there
Feeling a bit excluded

More Intense:

Consumed by envy
Seriously regretting (not going/participating)

Situational Appropriateness

Primarily informal.
Widely understood, especially among younger generations familiar with internet culture.
Might need explanation in very formal settings or with older individuals unfamiliar with the term.

Misunderstanding Warnings

People unfamiliar with internet acronyms might not know what FOMO stands for.
The intensity can be misunderstood; sometimes it's a lighthearted comment, other times a genuine source of anxiety.

Examples

I wasn't going to go to the party, but major FOMO kicked in when I saw their Instagram stories.
He bought tickets to the concert purely out of FOMO.
Stop checking your phone; don't let FOMO ruin our dinner.

Dialogue

Layla: Ugh, look at Sam's photos from Italy. The FOMO is real right now.

Ben: Oh wow, looks amazing. Yeah, I know what you mean.

Layla: Seriously considering booking a last-minute flight.

Ben: Haha, maybe just plan a nice weekend trip instead? Less FOMO-driven!

Response Patterns

Acknowledgment: Yeah, I get that feeling sometimes too. / Tell me about it!
Downplaying: Ah, you're not missing much. / It probably wasn't that great anyway.
Sharing own experience: I had serious FOMO last weekend when everyone went camping.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After someone expresses FOMO:

Ask for details: What are you missing out on? / What did you see that triggered it?
Offer reassurance: Don't worry about it, we can do something fun next time.
Suggest alternatives: Maybe we can plan something similar soon?

After acknowledging FOMO:

Share a related anecdote: It reminds me of the time I missed...
Discuss coping mechanisms: How do you usually deal with FOMO?

Conversation Starter

No.
Usually arises mid-conversation when discussing events, social media, or feelings of regret/envy.

Intonation

When spoken as the acronym FOMO, each letter is usually pronounced distinctly, F-O-M-O, often with a slightly stressed or elongated MO at the end if emphasizing the feeling.
If saying the full phrase Fear Of Missing Out, the stress typically falls on Fear and Out.

Generation Differences

Most common among Millennials and Gen Z who grew up with social media.
Older generations might understand the concept but are less likely to use the acronym FOMO.

Regional Variations

Widely understood across English-speaking regions due to global internet culture.

Keep it real

🎲 Ghosting

[0586] FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)