FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out

foursquareblog — Junior Reporters (from top) Adelina Valdez, Steffany Gutierrez, Patricia Barrios and Emma Carr blog about "FOMO": The Fear of Missing Out

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is when feelings of anxiety, inferiority or just plain jealousy hit you when peering into the Facebook and Twitter posts of your friends, peers and co-workers. It may signal you to ask, why am I sitting at home reading this post while so-and-so is out having a good time? Sunday’s New York Times article “Feel Like a Wallflower? Maybe It’s Your Facebook Wall” by Jenna Wortham prompted four junior reporters for The Mesquite to share their own experiences with “FOMO.”

Emma Carr

Facebook Stalker | By Emma Carr

I have a friend — I’ll call her Jane — who is pregnant. Her doctor told her she may be more tired, possibly more irritable during her pregnancy, but what they forgot to mention that she’d be hit by FOMO… and hit hard.

Here’s Jane: “Hey! How was that dos-a-rita you got the other day? And who was that guy who commented on your post. I tried to look at his page but it was blocked.” She quickly realizes the creepiness of her words and embarrassingly confesses, “I’m sorry, I Facebook stalk you.”

It’s not Jane’s fault, really. We’d all be lying if we claimed to never have Facebook-stalked an old flame or enemy in hopes to see that their lives turned out horribly. We hoped they checked our page and were enraged by envy by our fabulous lives.

I think it’s safe to say FOMO lives in us all; sometimes it hits hard and your symptoms show. Much like the common cold, there is no cure. Missing out on information — more times than not, useless — is too much for us to bear. Let it be known how quickly FOMO can turn ugly. Recently I learned just how devastating FOMO can really be. It was one of my darkest hours, but feel it must be told to save others. You’re welcome, in advance. This story involves a him, a her and and me running in my flip flops. Read more.

Adelina Valdez

You’re going Where? I Hate You | Adelina Valdez

Nothing is worse then facing a weekend without plans, especially after my friend posts on her Facebook wall: “Want this week to go by fast. Going to see Billy [Currington] on Friday!!” Instantly, my favorite song “Let me down easy” starts playing in my head. Then comes the envy. That ugly, green monster that sticks out its tongue and says “too bad you’re not going!”

I respond the only way I know how. The only method I see to console my envious thoughts.
I comment “I hate you.” Harsh? Maybe.

Social media calls at every corner. Between the Internet, applications on our phones, SMS and email alerts, it’s hard to stay away. Among the random events posted about your friends’ day are the things everyone else is doing that you’re not. Even as I’m writing this, my phone lights up and the text message reads “Megan Hendrick commented on your status…” Wait, where was I? Oh, yeah. It’s definitely hard to stay away.

Steffany Gutierrez

Did I Miss Something? | By Steffany Gutierrez

I worry that in the last two hours someone needed advice on a life or death matter and I missed it.

My fear of missing out extends far beyond events and places where people might be. Social media has prompted an large-scale fear of missing out on…everything. What if I missed something important someone posted? What if I missed out on a message someone sent? What if there’s a vital piece of information that will change my life just sitting there in my inbox, waiting to be unveiled, waiting to be answered, waiting to be read? I worry that at some point between the last two hours that I logged in, someone needed advice on a life and death matter, that someone had a confession to make, that someone shared a hilarious story and I, busy with life outside the social media world, might have missed it. Yep, that is my fear of missing out. I wonder how many comments I will get from those that feel the same?

Patricia Barrios

Guess How I Found Out About Girls’ Night? On Facebook | By Patricia Barrios

I know it’s wrong, but when I read the Facebook posts of my friends or family having fun, I admit, I’m a bit envious. So and so just checked in at the park. So and so is at the Blue Goose having a girl’s night out.

Well, I’m a full-time student, work part time and I’m raising a family. So am I a bad person? I’m glad that my friends and family are enjoying life. That is the whole reason I got on Facebook to begin with: to keep up with my friends and family during this hectic time of my life.So, I don’t miss out on the fun…even if I’m not the one having it.