Why You Can’t Stop Checking Your Phone
The Psychology of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) in the Digital Age
Have you ever felt a phantom vibration in your pocket? Meaning you could have sworn you felt your phone vibrate. I have and it’s a bit unnerving when you realize it didn’t ring and there were no notifications. Or have you glanced at your phone screen while in a deep conversation, just to make sure you weren’t missing something? If so, you’re not alone. In the age of hyper-connectivity, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) has become a near-constant companion, fueled by the endless stream of notifications and curated perfection on our smartphones.
What is FOMO?
FOMO can have a powerful grip on us! FOMO is the unsettling anxiety that we’re missing out on something exciting or important that’s happening elsewhere. It’s driven by two fundamental human needs: social connection and belonging. We evolved as social creatures, wired to seek approval and feel part of a tribe. In the past, this meant keeping tabs on our physical community.
Today, our digital communities have extended infinitely, creating a constant barrage of potential experiences we could be missing out on.
