Every third teenager displays a strong fear of missing out (FOMO). This is one of the conclusions from the 4th edition of the research ‘FOMO 2022. Poles and the Fear of Missing Out.’ It was conducted by the researchers from the Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies, and the Faculty of Psychology, the University of Warsaw.

According to the latest report regarding the FOMO, teenagers are still the most vulnerable group to the fear of missing out. It is the thought of losing the internet connection and access to social media that frightens young people.

The report was created after the fourth edition of the research ‘FOMO 2022. Poles and the Fear of Missing Out,’ conducted by the researchers from the UW Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies, the UW Faculty of Psychology, the Research Panel Ariadna, and the Research and Academic Computer Network (NASK). The study methodology was based on the answers from the focus group of people over the age of 15.

“The main issue in the previous edition of the research was the pandemic. This year we are coming back to the digital world. The omnipresent usage of smartphones is discussed; however, we are also interested in other phenomena, which shaped this very difficult year of 2022,” Prof. Anna Jupowicz-Ginalska, one of the authors of the study from the UW Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies, says.

FOMO in the latest report

This year’s report analyses the FOMO in the context of stress, information overload and the ability to use online media. The document compares the theoretical approach to the FOMO in academic literature: before, during and after the pandemic. Moreover, it includes the scope changes of such phenomena as: the fear of missing out, nomophobia (smartphone addiction) and one’s presence in social media. The report is concluded by some recommendations regarding digital hygiene.

“Information overload leads to a tragic state, in which one cannot live offline. It is then simply impossible not to react to every news and notification on the internet. The results of the research ‘FOMO 2022. Poles and the Fear of Missing Out’ are far from optimistic. We still have a long way to go. I encourage everyone to miss out on the internet from time to time. This way we can finally start to feel the JOMO (the joy of missing out),” Wojciech Pawlak, the NASK director, says.