FOMO: A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE?
It’s been reported that the term FOMO (Fear of missing out) was created in 2000 by a marketing strategist. Albeit, the term didn’t really come to life until the social media explosion almost a decade later. Even interesting is that the impact of FOMO is far older than this century. In fact, it is said to be a societal inheritance. We’re affected by the fear almost from birth. Its effects are seen in our communities (gangs), schools (schoolyard cliques and crews) and even our ancestry (tribes). In fact, during primitive times, FOMO was far more serious. Being excluded from a certain group could’ve put your life in danger.
While FOMO is not that serious today, it’s still no joke. There is rarely any sense of horror attached to seeing your friends go live on Instagram at an awesome party. Instead, it’s more an issue with nerves and anxiety contributing to bad emotional health. The following piece breaks down the impact of FOMO from its origin to present day and offers suggestions to keep the dread at bay (ex. Put the phone down!).
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