The dangers of social media are growing. People suffer from addiction to new technologies, and there are increasingly more signs and disorders that lead to this addiction. Social media largely affects young people, and it is essential to be very aware of the dangers it can pose and how important it is to use it responsibly. The harm that social media can cause, with disorders such as FOMO and addiction to new technologies, is proof of the toxicity of ICT in many cases.
FOMO is closely linked to the fear of missing out on important experiences, social plans, conversations, or content that other people seem to be experiencing in real time. This fear of missing out can lead to constantly checking your phone, social media, or notifications—behaviour that can be associated with addiction to new technologies when there is a loss of control.
What is FOMO?
The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), in Spanish, “fear of missing out”, is a disorder caused by social media. It is the feeling that you are missing something happening on social media and therefore having to check it at all times. Believing there is an event we were not invited to, that there is something we must discover… There are different fears that can lead someone who suffers from it to feel they have to check social media.
Social media, designed in such a way that it makes you feel you can always be checking something, is what causes this need that ends up leading to FOMO. That you can scroll infinitely and always have “new” content that you are missing. Or that there is always interaction between people also increases what we are talking about. At any moment someone may be commenting, liking, posting exclusive content that will only last a few hours… In short, it leads you to think you are “missing out” on something.
Social media encourages constant comparison with other people’s lives and can reinforce an unhealthy relationship with the virtual world. Photos of trips, parties, professional achievements, relationships, or seemingly perfect experiences can create the feeling that one’s own life is less interesting or satisfying. This perception is often distorted, since only part of reality is shown on social media, but it can still affect emotional wellbeing and reinforce the need to keep looking at what others are doing.
For all these reasons, FOMO is a psychological condition that can seriously affect people and a clear sign of social media addiction.
How to detect it?
One of the most common signs is that FOMO causes anxiety when the person cannot connect, check their social media, or respond immediately. This pattern can also be seen in cases of smartphone addiction, especially when the phone becomes a constant source of reassurance or validation. Social anxiety may also appear, especially when it is interpreted that others are meeting up, travelling, or taking part in experiences from which one feels excluded. This feeling can cause the person to stop enjoying the present, keep an eye on their phone even in social gatherings, and have difficulty mentally switching off.
FOMO can be detected in different ways, as symptoms can appear in various forms. These are some of the behaviours through which we can detect that the person suffers from fear of missing out:
- Keeping an eye on social media even at social events
- Feeling anxious thinking you are missing out on something
- Feeling bad or sad when you see events you are not attending
- Not enjoying what you are doing because you are thinking about what you could be doing
Continuously having this fear of missing out will end up causing a lot of anxiety. In addition, it creates a lot of stress and the sadness of feeling excluded from something, etc. All of this can lead people to depression.
People who suffer from FOMO will feel lonely, will feel envy due to the sensation of missing out, and will always try to stay connected to keep up with everything. Obviously, nobody can fully keep up with all the content that is published or be at every social event that exists, so it is something we should try to combat, because it makes no sense to suffer for not being able to keep up with everything.
It is obvious that having the feeling that something is missing or that you are being excluded from something is not healthy and ends up causing very low self-esteem that leads to serious psychological problems. These feelings are also due to a false perception of reality; therefore, we are facing a serious problem that we must address.
Other dangers of social media
At CCAdicciones we warn about the dangers of social media and recommend responsible use because it can be the cause of many problems, as we indicated in the following article: https://ccadicciones.es/redes-sociales-y-adiccion/
These are some of the other serious consequences of social media abuse:
- Lack of sociability
- Loneliness
- Problems in relationships with family and one’s surroundings
- Sleep problems
- Aesthetic pressures
- Anxiety
- Serious psychological problems and depression
- Addiction
Joy Of Missing Out
A good attitude to avoid suffering from this problem is to try not to think that we are missing out on something just because we are not looking at social media, and to feel comfortable with the moment we are living. Although it may seem like concepts are created for everything, in the case of JOMO its emergence helps explain how to counteract FOMO. Joy Of Missing Out in Spanish means “enjoying what you are missing out on”. That is, it is the opposite of fear of missing out, and the idea is to be able to enjoy the moment without thinking about others and without the worries that come from outside.
Beyond being just another new concept that you may or may not like, what it means is important because it goes against always being glued to your phone and worried about what might be happening. It is important to reach this state or to face things in this way. Prioritise lived experience and be aware that there will always be something we are missing out on, but because we are doing something else that we are happy with. Enjoying what you are missing out on is really nothing more than enjoying the here and now.
Despite how positive it can be to achieve this attitude towards life and as a way of dealing with things, what must be done in cases of addiction to new technologies is to seek help from health professionals.
Avoid excessive social media use
One of the keys to avoiding addiction is always to maintain healthy habits and not change life routines because of social media. Therefore, having an active social life or doing other types of activities will be key to keeping your mind clear and making it easier to separate yourself from devices. Obviously, falling into addiction is not something people can control, but we can adopt certain habits that will help us prevent these situations.
Here are some recommendations to prevent addiction:
- Do leisure activities
- Always maintain social relationships
- Prioritise people over technology
- Do physical exercise to help switch off your mind
Other tips that may be useful: delete apps, set specific times to check social media, or monitor the hours of use. And in the case of parents, not only monitor but also raise awareness about the use and abuse of social media to help prevent addiction. Education in its use can be vitally important. However, in cases of severe disorders or addiction, professional treatment should be sought.
Detoxing from new technologies
At CCAdicciones we offer a specialised treatment to combat addiction to new technologies. We also provide therapy and have professionals who are trained and knowledgeable about these issues. Although they may sometimes seem less serious, non-substance addictions are also very dangerous and must be treated. The behavioural changes caused by these addictions are not easy to reverse, which is why professional external support will be necessary to work through these issues.
At CCAdicciones we always believe in detoxification and whether it is fear of missing out or any other symptom derived from addiction to ICT that can cause health problems, it must be treated. In this way, we will achieve much greater wellbeing. Our lives and the lives of the people around us will improve if we leave addiction behind.
How to manage FOMO
Managing FOMO involves learning to relate to social media and new technologies in a healthier way. That is why it is important to prevent addiction to new technologies through limits, routines, and activities outside the digital environment. Some useful guidelines include setting specific times to check your phone, turning off unnecessary notifications, avoiding comparing yourself to idealised lives, and spending more time on in-person activities that promote personal balance.
It is also important to take care of mental health and observe whether social media use is affecting rest, self-esteem, personal relationships, or mood. When the fear of missing out becomes constant, interferes with daily life, or causes intense distress, it may be necessary to seek professional help.
Do you find it hard to disconnect from your phone, social media, or video games?
If technology is affecting your rest, self-esteem, studies, work, relationships, or emotional well-being, seeking professional assessment may be helpful.
At CC Adicciones, we treat behavioral addictions and problematic screen use with a personalized approach, helping to restore routines, boundaries, and emotional balance.
Request confidential guidance: +34 617 200 882
We can also guide families concerned about screen use in adolescents.
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