You’ve Heard of FOMO—Here Are Others ‘Fears Of…’ You Should Know About

By now, you've definitely heard of FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out. It's a feeling of unease that comes with thinking others might be having more fun or enjoying greater success or happiness than you, often exacerbated by highly curated social media posts.

But what FOMO has entered the common vernacular, it's not the only "Fear Of" acronym that's being tossed around lately. In fact, a few variations on FOMO are growing in popularity. If you don't want to miss out on their meaning, we have the breakdown for you below.

FOLO

FOLO, or Fear of Losing Out, is a slightly different variation on FOMO. It stems from a belief that, while everyone is out living their best lives and gaining win after win, you've been on the losing end, with new opportunities seemingly out of reach. This can pertain to everything from relationships and career goals to financial opportunities, and be especially common when people online seem to have everything fall into their laps without trying.

In some places, we've also seen FOLO stand for Fear of Living Offline. Some people can be constantly glued to their phones, afraid that if they step away for just a moment, something big and life-defining will happen, and they'll be left out in some way. Others may only feel validated or worthy when they are reassured online by others in the form of likes and comments, living through social media posts, rather than focusing on real life, and feeling like an experience doesn't even count if it hasn't been shared with the masses.

(via Unsplash)

 

FOBO

FOBO stands for Fear of Better Options, and it can play a major factor in indecision. It relates back to the paradox of choice, which suggests that the more options we're given, the less happy we actually become due to fatigue from considering so many choices paired with wondering if we missed out on an even better option. Having a billion options at our fingertips at all time can be exhausting, and even if you've made the best decision at the world, you can still convince yourself there's something better for you out there and feel dissatisfied.

 

Also read about: 6 Ways to Become More Decisive

 

FOBIA

FOBIA—which aptly sounds just like "phobia"—stands for the Fear of Being Ignored Altogether. This can be a coping mechanism of sorts, as when a person is feeling completely ignored in their real life, they might go online in search of connection and validation. From there, they feel tied to the social media pages where they aren't ignored, feeling they must continue to post and share to get the social interactions they're craving.

(via Unsplash)

 

Also read about: 5 Random Skills to Learn to Increase Your Productivity

 

FOJI

FOJI is the Fear of Joining In, and despite actively being the opposite of FOMO, both fears are rooted in the similar kinds of social angst. It's an anxiety that if you do decide to join in and post online, you'll face some kind of ridicule or rejection. In an effort to connect with others, you might reinforce that no one wants to follow you or engage with what you post, or that they'll have a negative reaction to them—and from there, one might make some larger (and likely false) assumptions about their life in general.

 

ROMO

While FOMO stands for the Fear of Missing Out, ROMO represents the more concrete Reality of Missing Out. It stems from the pandemic, when all of us were hunkering down and knowing we were missing out on things, but still applies to many situations, whether we're tied down by illness, responsibility, location or lack of funds during the experiences we resplendently wish we could be a part of.

(via Unsplash)

 

Trying to avoid summer FOMO? Click HERE for our tips on focusing on your own experiences.