Fear of Missing Out

Abstract

We’re in a FOMO state of mind, and it isn’t pretty. That’s Fear Of Missing Out, for those unfamiliar with the acronym. Quiet nights in are turning into nerve-racking and unproductive hours spent refreshing newsfeeds. We get too many emails with offers on everything from designer duds to soap, yet we can’t bring ourselves to unsubscribe. We go to parties but keep our gaze affixed to our phones, checking email, texts and posts. Today we are exposed more than ever before to what others around us are doing, and we’re filled with a gnawing uncertainty about whether we’ve made the right choice about what to do or where to be—not just in a given moment, but in stages of our lives as well. And our friends aren’t helping, touting their every FOMO-worthy move in real time. We’ve always had a fear of missing out, but it’s exploding with the onset of real-time, location-based and social media tools. This report identifies which cohort is most prone to FOMO and how they respond to it, spotlights how FOMO is manifesting in the zeitgeist, and looks at the wide-ranging potential for brands seeking to tap into FOMO. METHODOLOGY