Perspective Chapter: The Impact of Social Media on the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) among Teenagers Aged between 18 and 25

Abstract

In recent years, social media has significantly transformed human interaction and communication. One emerging phenomenon is the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), which refers to the anxiety individuals feel when they believe they are missing out on rewarding experiences. This study explores the relationship between social media usage and FOMO among teenagers aged 18–25. While social media facilitates constant connectivity, it also contributes to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety as users compare their lives to curated online content. This research, employing a mixed-methods approach of surveys and focus groups, reveals a positive correlation between time spent on social media and FOMO, with significant psychological impacts. Despite minimal differences in FOMO levels across age and gender, the study underscores the profound effects on teenagers’ mental health. It also highlights the need for strategies to manage FOMO and suggests implications for social media designers, educators, and policymakers to foster healthier social media habits among young adults.

1. Introduction

Social media is defined as Internet-based applications that promote consumer-generated content and two-way conversation interactions. Also, it helps users connect, socialize, and exchange information. Social media has transformed human life in terms of the way people do things and associate with one another. All these platforms are made to make content sharing easier and effortless. No matter what it is you are into, social media networks have something to provide. However, countless societally related challenges have resulted from the increased access to social media structures. One significant problem encountered by individuals on social networking sites is they have a “fear of missing out” (FOMO) on something incredibly fun or exciting elsewhere, leading to the individual’s desire to stay linked with the immeasurable streams of knowledge on various websites. The myriad of activities on social media networks has resulted in the vast number of adolescents who use social networking sites becoming dependent on them [1, 2].

1.1 Background of the study

Social media is very popular not only locally but also globally and is well-known by all. The popularity of social media has indeed increased in line with current advances in mobile technology. The prevalence of the use of social media among teenagers can be considered a global phenomenon. Given the importance of social media in the life of the current generation, the present digital era has further enabled the function of social media in social relationships, including friendships, interactions, communication, and others. Even though social media has positive and negative effects, these include teenagers’ fear of missing out, which should be given special attention and recognized.

According to the theory of social comparison, individuals base information about themselves on different sources, and at times, they compare their lives with other individuals’ lives. The upward social comparison model developed by FOMO is driven by the principle of social comparison, whereby individuals are motivated to compare themselves to those who are at a level they want to achieve or even fear not achieving. Such individuals attempt to improve their competitive ability and maintain being in competition with someone above them through upward social comparison, and this will facilitate positive and negative emotions. Hindered positive effects can be seen in self-esteem and positive emotion, while anxiety and low mood can also be seen. The stronger the urge to be included, the greater the social media use will be and the greater the fear of missing out. Previous studies between FOMO and the use of social media are, in fact, related.

1.2 Significance of the study

The study draws attention to a concern that has a considerable effect on the current generation. The extent of social media usage among the current generation is very high. It has increased so much that it has a large negative effect on the individual’s well-being. Despite the positive impact of social media, it has created fear among teenagers, which is defined as the state of mental or emotional strain caused by the belief that one is missing out on something. Although FOMO has been relatively underexplored in the literature, scholars highlight its potential to cause detrimental outcomes. It is also indicated as the preliminary cause of various mental as well as bodily illnesses. It is sometimes labeled as a psychological disorder, which ultimately affects their academic performance. In relation to the previous researchers, these authors feel that their research would potentially give more practical insights to industry practitioners, enabling them to overcome the negative impact on teenagers and acquire positive effects. Thus, by exploring practical ways, this study can benefit different stakeholders.

The study also highlights various highly affected countries by FOMO. The present research is very significant as it examines the solutions for identified FOMO, a frustrating psychological experience with negative implications for individuals, enabling young adults to better manage and cope. This is particularly important considering the current generation spends the highest number of hours on the Internet. Additionally, if teenagers learn to manage their FOMO, stupidity may be prevented from increased spending. Hence, this research is of particular interest, considering it has been suggested that FOMO may lead to increased spending. The authors examined some practical implications of the findings. One party that stands to benefit from the study is a cultural online consumer environment. Additionally, policy formulators will benefit from identifying a segment that is opinionated in the growth and management of social media platforms. Furthermore, teenagers may benefit from gaining psychological control over FOMO.

1.3 Research objectives

Having reviewed the literature on the relationship between the fear of missing out and social media among young adults aged 18–25 years, the question arises as to what variables influence the level of the fear of missing out in users of those online platforms. The purpose of this research is to analyze to what extent select individual and technological variables determine the fear of missing out, as one of the potential negative consequences of using social media, among individuals belonging to the study sample. The average age of the study sample is 20 years, and slightly over half of the participants are females. Anonymity records were provided to ensure the confidentiality of the participants. The questionnaire was carried out considering the structured interview technique.

Specifically, the main research objectives aimed at achieving this purpose are as follows. The first goal is to examine the differences in the fear of missing out in the use of social networks in terms of select individual characteristics (e.g., gender, learning language, self-assessment of overall learning, and characteristics of the mobile device used). The literature indicates that social network users, in terms of their personal characteristics or patterns of social network usage, differ in the level of the fear of missing out, alongside differing in select other areas of life.

2. Literature review

The impact of social media on the fear of missing out (FOMO) is a common concern among many people of all ages. The proposed study will focus on teenagers aged between 18 and 25 to investigate how social media affects their FOMO. Adventures, family outings, and party invitations shared on social media are likely to trigger FOMO among them. According to researchers, FOMO has a direct impact on social media activity as it encourages users to sign in more often. This will allow them to be in tune with what is happening around them. Studies have shown that FOMO has negative effects aside from having a high degree of engagement in social media.

Chances are, at some point, we have all been hit by the fear of missing out. It is likely that there are plenty of good ideas, photos, and images being posted without us. As we watch, we experience the feeling of anxiety, jealousy, and maybe even depression. However, not everybody will be able to notice its impact. Those who may suffer from the negative impact are teenagers. Researchers found a negative correlation between FOMO and life satisfaction, autonomy and competence, the pressure to be perfect, perceived stress, and resilience/self-efficacy in a group of teenagers. Unfortunately, the growth and recruitment of social media among people are in direct proportion. Users continue to flock to social media sites, seeking the virtual pleasant lives of others over social circles, entertainment, and pastimes.

1. The impact of social media on the fear of missing out (FOMO) has garnered considerable attention in recent years. FOMO is defined as a pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent [3]. This phenomenon is especially prevalent among teenagers and young adults, making it a critical area of study.

2. FOMO and Social Media Usage: Research indicates that social media platforms amplify feelings of FOMO among users. This is particularly evident among teenagers aged 18 to 25, who are highly active on social media [4]. Adventures, family outings, and party invitations shared online are common triggers for FOMO [5]. These triggers lead individuals to check social media more frequently to stay updated on their peers’ activities, exacerbating FOMO [6].

3. Psychological effects of FOMO: FOMO is associated with various negative psychological outcomes. Studies have shown that high levels of FOMO correlate with increased anxiety, jealousy, and depression [7]. Furthermore, FOMO negatively impacts life satisfaction, autonomy, competence, and resilience among teenagers [8]. The pressure to present a perfect life online and perceived stress are also heightened by FOMO, leading to reduced self-efficacy [9].

4. Social Media and Life satisfaction: The growth of social media usage has been proportional to the increase in FOMO among users [3]. This trend is concerning as it suggests a cyclical relationship where social media usage feeds FOMO, which in turn drives further social media engagement [10]. Teenagers, in particular, are vulnerable to this cycle, as they are in a developmental stage where peer approval and social belonging are paramount [11].

2.1 Comparison and envy

In this sense, it has been proposed that three domains of envy (benign and malicious, and personal distress) may be distinguished, each with very different psychological, affective, and cognitive components. The benign envy, which is characterized as relatively moderate, aspiring, and assertive in nature, may give impetus to self-improvement and influence learning and may even play a motivating role. On the other hand, malicious envy reflects a destructive, negative set of behaviors fueled by the intention to penalize others in order to decrease the social and emotional distance from them. The third domain is the personal distress category, in which the envious individual exhibits primarily self-directed sources of distress and negative consequences, such as feeling guilty about their emotions or being hostile. It has been confirmed that, compared to benign and malicious envy, personal distress patterns are significantly and positively associated with lower levels of well-being.

For example, a study found that Facebook users who had not interacted with their spouse during a computerized task formed greater negative feelings toward their spouse when primed with select open-ended Facebook statuses of other individuals. Furthermore, comparative short-term mood states differed based on the social comparison direction of the primed statuses. Among these negative states is envy, which is conceptualized as a maladaptive, complex social emotion or a two-person emotion involving longing, confusion, and discontent triggered by another person’s better situation, talent, or valuable item [12, 13].

2.2 Definition of FOMO

Fear of missing out (FOMO) can be defined as the feeling or perception that everyone else is having more fun and fulfilling relationships than an individual is. It is the sense of not being part of a group and/or having less of a deserved positive experience. Social media gives rise to a pervasive and increasingly influential tool for communication. The potential threats associated with excessive social networking site use on individual well-being include increased feelings of social isolation, contributing to one’s FOMO, contributing to envy, reducing productivity, and decreasing self-esteem while supporting mood disorders.

The word “fear of missing out” (FOMO) was added to the Oxford Dictionary to describe the feeling of apprehension that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website. FOMO can also be considered as a social media-fueled anxiety where an individual feels that other people are having rewarding experiences and/or other types of rewarding experiences that they are not partaking in. FOMO happens in social media interaction where an individual feels a direct threat that derives from believing that someone else is having a good experience that they are not having.

2.3 Previous studies on social media and FOMO

Previous studies on social media and FOMO have demonstrated that the use of a wide range of social media platforms, such as Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram, worsens the fear of missing out among teenagers. Using Instagram especially leads to a significant increase in both types of FOMO (need-related and significance-related), implying that the more a person uses Instagram, the more they feel that they cannot afford to miss these activities.

Similarly, teenagers (age 18 and above) who spend large amounts of time on Facebook express the greatest need to be connected. These findings can be explained by the fact that social media does not merely convey news about social events but also creates a desire to remain in the loop with the world around us.

Conversely, another factor of FOMO arises because current social media practices do not quench our deepening thirst for connection. Therefore, experiencing poor connection may cause FOMO to increase.

3. Methodology

This chapter discusses the research methods used in the study to answer the research questions. The aim of this study is to identify or measure the impact of social media on FOMO. To achieve this aim, the survey research design was found to be the best choice for three aspects: only in situ survey possible, mass classes, limited funds, and a larger number of respondents. Based on the research aim, four research objectives were designed to guide the research activities. The questionnaire was structured and developed. The format included open-ended, close-ended, multiple-choice, and rating scale types of questions.

To identify the correlation between social media behavior and FOMO, we focused on the frequency and intention of the use of several social media options. The newly constructed questionnaire contains three main parts. The first part is the demographic description. The demographic factors considered are age, gender, education level, living place, and family income. The second part is the measurement of social media using duration and frequency; the respondents will be asked to rate their frequency of accessing social media on a typical daily basis. The third part measures and examines the intensity of social media use for the individual social media; for instance, asking the respondents the total time that they typically spent on social media each day on specific platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Snapchat. The last part measures the FOMO. The Fear of Missing Out Scale is used in this research to measure the FOMO level of each respondent.

3.1 Research design

The main aim of this research study is to determine the relationship between the two constructs: social media and the fear of missing out among teenagers aged 18–25. This would identify if social media usage actually promotes FOMO among young adult users. Using this research, the researcher aims to determine the psychological impacts on adolescents and young adults and suggest advice for better social media use. The discoveries from this research should give answers to the proposed questions and hypotheses formed in the literature review chapter.

This research is designed to be a quantitative study as it aims to carry out a survey to understand the relationships between variables through statistical tests. Suitable hypotheses are formulated for this research purpose, and a questionnaire is constructed as the research instrument which would be delivered to young adult college participants. For this quantitative study, it is essential for the participants of the survey to respond based on their personal concerns and perspectives with all questions in the questionnaire. Due to the nature of human involvement in survey-based research, this research would utilize Simple Random Sampling to collect data from a range of people who are active users of social media. With a large population size, this method is best as it would work well to obtain a random set of responses that would be representative of the perspectives of the population. After collecting the data with the survey instrument, this research would then proceed with weight-of-evidence and methodological assessment steps to confirm and validate the collected data. Finally, a hypothesis testing approach would be adopted to investigate if the bases of social media and FOMO among teenagers in the context of the study are reliable and applicable.

3.2 Sampling technique

In this study, convenience sampling will be adopted based on the existing students in the university. Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where the subjects are selected because of their convenient accessibility and proximity to the researcher. According to Etikan, Musa, and Alkassim [14], convenience sampling generally delivers a high response rate as the researcher will be able to approach most of the target population. Convenient sampling is also known to be more cost-effective and time-saving for the researcher. Furthermore, Kendrick and Veruttipong [15] pointed out that convenience sampling is the only available or feasible way to approach a survey target group, such as students in a university or employees in a company. The respondents that will be approached must match the defined students required for the tests and accurately represent the required targets with proper distribution and variety demographics and data.

3.3 Data collection methods

This research project will make use of qualitative research methods. Qualitative research is used to conduct exploratory research for the collection of data and is flexible in terms of collecting data and can be used to engage with everyday phenomena. Qualitative research allows research that looks at behavior and the reasons behind the behavior and so provides a rich insight into approach. Ideal for studying people, it enables researchers to get to grips with the way that culture, values, and attitudes inform a diverse range of phenomena. In particular, this research will make use of focus group discussions. Focus group research is a powerful tool for understanding how people fundamentally feel and think about the world. It enables researchers to understand the emotional and cultural dimensions of life, and so lead the industry in developing communications that genuinely connect with real values and attitudes.

It allows a rare opportunity for people to speak freely, and it is good for plugging business thinking into these free conversations. What is great about them is how open-minded and responsive they can be. They can be fired with energy and fresh thinking that you struggle to find in one-on-one, in-depth interviews. For this, two focus groups will be carried out – one representing females and one representing males aged 18–25, respectively. The focus group size recommended is 6–8 participants. A 60-minute focus group session will be held in a warm, appropriate, relaxed, and comfortable location for the participants. It will make use of a semi-structured focus group discussion guide to provide focus and make sure that discussions are on track. Participants will give consent before the start of the focus group discussion, and using recording devices will ensure accurate feedback recording while respecting privacy.

4. Data analysis

In the social media question, we asked respondents how many platforms they had accounts on. Facebook emerged as the platform where most respondents operated an account (98.8%), while Instagram (72.94%) came second and Twitter (9.6%) third. At least 73.3% of the interviewed individuals had an account on two platforms, 19% indicated they operated an account on three platforms, while 3% of the sample operated an account on six platforms. Some platforms were neither popular nor attractive to the respondents, as reflected in the percentage of respondents operating an account on the respective platform. For example, only seven percent of the respondents labored under the burden of platforms such as Tumblr, Snapchat, and Ask.fm.

We utilized logistic regression to model the relationship with our study since FOMO was measured as a binary outcome: whether FOMO was triggered or not. The procedure behind logistic regression can be specified as simple and fits our data perfectly and effectively. Yager and Borowsky [16] used it in analyzing the impact of social media against FOMO. Additionally, in line with Kaye et al. [17], the use of logistic regression becomes necessary when a dependent variable is in the form of 0 and 1.

4.1 Descriptive statistics

The study findings revealed that no teenagers considered social media harmful, and neither female nor male participants reported thinking that social media promoted addiction. Similarly, no teenagers mentioned the effect of social media on mental health. However, the reasons for the excessive use of social websites varied: most participants indicated that social media was a source of several kinds of family problems caused by not spending time together; it could affect the physical conditions, i.e., sleep at night, daily rhythm, and eyes hurt; and psychological conditions, such as links to anxiety or inattentiveness. The execution of homework and students’ low performance at the university or school were also important reasons for teenage participants.

The findings indicated that no participants had ever heard about FOMO, or they were not familiar with the word. These findings can be related to the fact that only one participant reported the negative sides of social media, and the reasons for the excessive or occasional use of social media did not contain FOMO either. However, none of the participants had applied for alcohol use yet. Behind the point is that only one participant declared forming feelings of anxiety. Still, no female or male participants expressed that social media could raise feelings of anxiety or addiction because of the standardized, glamorous, happy, or deceiving photos on these websites. The quality of social media, innovation, or frequency, does not exacerbate or eliminate underused adolescent reactions. The age was not found relevant for analysis because all participants were in the same age range, and participants referred to the same five common websites.

4.2 Inferential statistics

Several tests were carried out to establish the relationship between excessive social media use, the impact of social media images on the emotions felt by the targeted subjects, and finally the impact of FOMO on the studied subjects. The first question was geared toward understanding how often teenage girls check social media. The results of the Chi-Square Tests used to test how often teenage girls use social media on their teenage girlfriends on the three preferred social media sites were significant. The check-ins from friends were revealed on both Instagram and Facebook. Both sites had large proportions of teenage girl check-ins from friends at both intervals – 51.4% (IG) and 43.1% (FB) for today and 18.6% (IG) and 29.4% (FB) for the first thing. These scores were higher than the expectations and, therefore, inferential that Instagram and Facebook are checked by teenage girls from 18 to 25 close to the time they wake up in the morning.

This similarly applies to Kiwis but at a lower rate and not at the time they first wake. Over the two sites, only 35% of the teenage girls receive no check-ins from friends at all on any day. Therefore, the girls get substantially higher self-assurance from this constant activity, and some of the kids get a lift every day straight after getting up. After the morning check-ins had been viewed, there was still more social media to interact with the form of hearting and commenting. The high statistical significance achieved via multiple chi-square tests shows that teenage girls are willing to devote large amounts of time, both morning and day, to preferred social media channels by interacting with each other. While daytime social media usage is difficult to measure, it is clear from this process that a huge proportion of teenage girls live out their entire day through social media.

5. Findings

5.1 Demographics 1. 54.1% of the sample were female, and 45.9% were male

1. The majority of our sample (66%) post on social media between 3x per day to every couple of days.

2. The majority of people reported looking at social media 3–4 hours a day but believing that they spent well over 5 hours a day looking at social media.

3. The likes and comments on social media profile pic are the selfiest of all the pictures a user can have. Accordingly, a significant majority have 1–10 likes and comments on their profile picture.

5.2 Hypotheses

H1 – Age and FOMO. FOMO scores were compared by age – reducing the sample into younger (18–20) and older (21–25) age groups. The independent samples t-test was applied, and no significant difference was found.

H2– Gender and FOMO. The independent samples t-test was applied to the data to explore any differences in FOMO by gender. No significant difference was found.

H3 – Social media viewing time and FOMO. There was a positive correlation between FOMO and both current social media use and social media usage over the holiday period.

H4 – Social media posting frequency and FOMO. Correlation analysis was applied to explore the relationship between social media posting frequency and FOMO. There was no significant correlation.

5.3 Overview of participants

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of social media on the FOMO condition among 255 teenagers aged 18–25. A social media website analysis was conducted, relating to four social indicators (amount of use, reasons for use, attitude toward SNS, and participants’ preference for real-time interaction) of social media usage. After gathering all the necessary information, our team designed and administered an Internet-based survey in which the four indicators for social media were considered. A sample of adolescents participated in the study, and the impact of media usage on the fear of missing out was outlined.

Filled questionnaires were collected from a total of 255 students who were attending for-credit courses. They were studying at the college, high school, and undergraduate level primarily in the city of Mumbai (Wadala area). Most participants, or 56% (142/255) were female, and the mean age of the participants was 20 years (SD = 1.1, Range = 18–25). It was found that 37.6% (96/255) were high school students, 35% (89/255) were from college, and 27.4% (70/255) were undergraduate students. Most of the participants were categorized as having moderate health and economic status. With 61.2% (156/255) of the participants, a family medium income was based in accordance with the table of the college expenditure.

5.4 Key findings on social media usage and FOMO

A survey questionnaire was designed to understand how teenagers and people in their 20s use social media. Specifically, questions related to the frequency of social media usage, the type of content being accessed, the duration of the social media session, and the platform being utilized were evaluated. Moreover, various questions related to any symptoms or signs of FOMO materializing from the usage of the social media platform were also asked (Figure 1). This survey consisted of 31 questions divided into three main sections, including social media use and dependency section, FOMO, and demographic information. To analyze their FOMO, single items related to ‘fear of not being constantly connected to the world’ were tested.

Figure 1.

Distribution of students as per education level.

The survey questionnaire was distributed only to participants aged 18 to 25. A total of 120 have participated in this survey. All those participants were social media users, and they have joined the survey anonymously. They are given 2 weeks to respond to the survey, the completion time of which varies from 3.5 to 25.5 minutes. The choice of the age range is not a random decision but one that requires careful deliberation. According to Statista [18, 19], the projected number of social media users aged 18–25 in Malaysia was 5.1 million people. In addition, based on social media users by age group, it was found that the most active age group for daily usage was 20–30 years old, with 43.79 percent among some countries, including Indonesia, Venezuela, Argentina, and Morocco [20].

6. Discussion

The study aims to identify the relationship between the use of social media and the fear of missing out on teenagers aged 18–25. The findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between the time spent on social media and the fear of missing out. It shows that the fear of missing out is intensified with longer usage of social media as it would increase the frequency of exposure to social activities of online contacts. As frequent exposure would further invoke the fear of being left behind, users’ dependency on social media may increase to follow and stay interactive in the social world created on social media. It is aligned with the findings by Theiss and Estassi [21] that greater usage of the Internet for communication leads to increased dependency on the Internet, and the occurrence of dependency leads to perceived Internet threats.

The study also identifies that the type of social media used by teenagers affects the fear of missing out, and the effect provided are social media in its general capacity, offline communication-oriented social media, and picture browsing-oriented social media. With respect to the general attribute of social media, it is mentioned that social media, regardless of its nature, is a tool that links to friends, relatives, acquaintances, and the world in an instant. Individuals would have a powerful impulse to check notifications or feeds, feeling irritated to want to know when they are active on social media. Furthermore, mobile apps provide real-time information from a person’s social network, putting further pressure on its users to be constantly connected and up to date. As teenagers are becoming digitally dependent and significantly more interactive with mobile apps, a smartphone would act as a stimulant to develop severe users’ fear of missing out if their use is leading toward the risks of missing out. The result that shows the general capability of social media usage leads to a fear of missing out among teenagers is in line with the concept on which social media has the greatest potential to produce fear of missing out effect based on the architecture of the social media interface design, unlike numerous handheld mobile applications. Firstly, the embedded real-time notifications or feeds from friends, relatives, and other acquaintances would shape an instant relationship between the participants within the social media network. Secondly, all previous informational posts are available at all times, leading to chronic keenness to feel connected with their online social world.

6.1 Interpretation of findings

This predictive cross-sectional study reveals that the duration of social media usage significantly influences teenagers’ fear of missing out. The more time spent on social media, the greater the potential for teenagers to deactivate their accounts. It must be understood that this investigation measures the behavior of supplanting a realistic self-presentation with an ideal one and examines whether this is to such an extent for some online users that it leads to an illusive experience of being central in such situations. Age is another significant influencer that prevents this from happening to the studied group. With each cohort, the FOMO scores decrease continuously, with young adults aged 25 years old possessing it the least.

By limiting the scope to a mere 1 week before this study, the attempt is to examine how social media usage has a short-term correlation with how teenagers wish to use their time that is not spent on the platforms. This aim could thereby better predict when they favor inactive social media experiences and define how often they go offline. Future work could delve into how their decline in FOMO would enable these young adults to carry out offline-based activities in a determined and organized manner, effectively using a balance of both online and offline experiences.

6.2 Implications for future research

There are several limitations of this study that can provide opportunities for future research. Firstly, the sample population is restricted to teenagers in the age range of 18–25 years old. This study only focused on the influence of social media platform usage, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, and the impact of social media usage on FOMO. Hence, it is suggested that future studies can focus on other social media platforms such as the next big social media app for hooking up, highly addictive video-sharing app, and even “TikTok.” Each social media platform does not perform the same way. Thus, the use of each social media platform might have significantly different impacts on FOMO.

Secondly, as the impact of social media on FOMO is one of the social psychology studies that have not yet been deeply analyzed, much is needed to be identified. Although many social psychology studies exist on social media and its effect, no specific research has been studied on the relationship between Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the new influential social media posts. However, the current study only focused on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Thus, it is suggested that future studies may investigate other new emerging social media.

Thirdly, the primary limitation of this study is that the data was only collected from the urban area of Klang Valley. The current research is geographically limited to the psychological impacts of social media toward the Klang Valley’s teenagers in Malaysia. Therefore, it is advised that future studies can expand the research by extending the areas in other cities across different regions in Malaysia and expanding research on teenagers in rural areas, too [22].

7. Conclusion and recommendations

In conclusion, this study advanced the knowledge of social media and psychological health, speculated on the limited conditions of FOMO, and contributed to practitioners. Teenagers are at a stage where their identities are still developing and have yet to be determined. Their willingness to seek external recognition can be said to be stronger than that of adults. They emphasized that they would touch the social media app to confirm whether their publications had any feedback, comments, or likes or whether they were interested or even active at the moment. It is impossible for students to avoid being influenced by FOMO during the development process, which seriously affects their psychological development. Therefore, we hope that the findings of this paper can make teenagers understand the norms of the use of social media to truly relieve the threat of FOMO. Additionally, college educators can create courses related to the use of social media and the psychological impact of social media in colleges and universities to eliminate the negative psychological impact on students in time. The theoretical contributions of the study are the exploration of boundary conditions of FOMO and the examination of various important psychological outcomes of FOMO. This theoretical understanding will be helpful for the academic and non-academic community including government and principal to think about reducing negative psychological impact and promoting the positive impact by harnessing FOMO.

On the other hand, this research has several plausible implications for practitioners. Social media platform designers should provide or promote features that can enable users to satisfy either of these wants. An example of the fulfillment of these wants is to develop social media platforms that allow users to accurately control the accuracy of information that is shared with them and thereby enable users to limit their ability to like or respond to the specific contents of another user, which is termed ad hoc interactions. As we are in an era of new-generation media, social media platform designers should consider different dimensions of experience as part of the design principles of their platforms based on their media usage experience and patterns. Such platforms should particularly focus on the design principles of personalized information and privacy security management. A social media platform should be designed with functions to allow users to collect and share the information that is most appealing to them and to receive only the information that is most appealing to them. For instance, it should be designed to allows users to restrict the contents of other users to which the user can respond and access, also called privacy settings. Not all scholars share the same views on the association between how individuals witness others online (i.e., others’ happy moments posted online) and how the individuals feel satisfied with their lives or levels of emotional well-being. They should also not frequently view others’ happy moments that are negative for their well-being.

7.1 Summary of findings

This research aimed to examine the impact of social media on the fear of missing out (FOMO) among teenagers aged 18–25. The study was implemented in an Australian university setting. Analysis of the data showed that while those involved in social media and Internet activities recognized and reported the outcomes of involvement (i.e., sleep problems, affected quality and time spent with family or friends, low academic achievements, etc.), they balanced these concerns with the personal advantages they received from using social media. However, those who did not have the opportunity to be on social media were more concerned with potential negative outcomes of being involved, sometimes exaggerating them (e.g., as a result, reporting that if the phone and/or social media activity is taken away, it creates anxiety and stress).

While teenagers often express fears when their adults are using mobile phones or being on social media, teenagers’ own experiences are different. They consider this to be quite normal and value the positive aspects that they see in these social media activities as youth. The results of the research show that social media does not cause FOMO in teenagers but determines its sense for more fun and engagement in young life. As a result, this study allows us to question the phenomenon of FOMO, which is widely identified as ‘social knowledge’ and which is also discussed as something that can become a dominant effect of mobile phone and social media use. In the final section of this chapter, the findings are compared with the existing literature, and the results are discussed. The benefits of the FOMO components are identified, and the practical implications are presented. The chapter concludes with the limitations of the study and the potential topics for future research.

7.2 Recommendations for parents and educators

Given the fascination and hold of social media on teenagers, it is only natural to understand how a lack of involvement in social media can lead to a fear among teenagers of being left out. It is also understandable why parents and educators may turn to coercive measures to decrease or alleviate such fears. However, doing so does not address the issue behind FOMO. The positive and negative usage of social media can teach a teenager a lot. Hence, uncovering the use and perceptions of social media and its associated fear levels will help in forging a genuine understanding of the relationship that teenagers have with social media, particularly the use and perceptions of social media by the local teenage population.

Firstly, it will include the teenagers’ need for connection that draws significant interest. Secondly, it will enhance a better understanding of psychological connections. Thirdly, its revelation of the ways teenagers handle their FOMO will help to provide a roster of coping strategies. It will also show that FOMO can lead to a perception of mean behavior. In-depth interviews also help to uncover the main sub-contextual dimensions, giving insights into how sub-parts fit into the broad context of the local teenager’s perceptions. They also give teenager bloggers a genuine voice. One of the limitations of the study is that self-reported data often has a problem of self-serving bias, and this situation often occurs when extensive under-reporting of responses appears. As with all exploratory studies, further testing, with more varied age groups and cultural backgrounds, is needed.