#FOMO
Fear Of Missing Out—anxiety about not being where others are or doing what others do.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Peak | 2014-2016 |
| Meaning | Fear Of Missing Out |
| Coined | 2004, popularized 2014 |
| Psychology | Social media-induced anxiety |
Origin & Impact
While coined earlier, #FOMO became mainstream social media vocabulary around 2014 as a shorthand for the anxiety induced by seeing others’ curated social media posts. The hashtag captured a defining psychological phenomenon of the Instagram/Snapchat era—the persistent feeling that others are having more fun, better experiences, or more successful lives.
#FOMO sparked extensive research into social media’s mental health impacts and became a cultural touchstone for discussing digital life’s downsides. The term entered dictionaries and everyday conversation. Later, #JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out) emerged as a counter-movement embracing disconnection and presence.
Related Hashtags
- #JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out)
- #SocialMedia Anxiety
- #InstaLife
- #Unplug