The Reality of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) in The Lives of Senior High School Students in The Social Media Era

Abstract

The development of social media has changed the way students obtain information, communicate, and build social relationships. On the other hand, the ease of continuously viewing other people's activities may be associated with Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), namely the concern that arises when individuals feel that they are missing out on other people's information, activities, or experiences. This article aims to examine the reality of FOMO among high school students, the factors that shape it, its consequences, and its implications for Guidance and Counseling services. This article employs a descriptive qualitative approach using a literature review design. The literature was selected based on its relevance to FOMO, social media, adolescent development, education, and Guidance and Counseling, prioritizing recent scientific sources while retaining relevant foundational theoretical sources. The synthesis results indicate that FOMO is formed through the interrelationship between the intensity of social media use, the need for social connectedness and acceptance, self-esteem, and social comparison. FOMO is not only associated with social media use behavior, but may also be related to disruptions in learning concentration, task postponement, anxiety, self-dissatisfaction, dependence on social validation, and reduced quality of direct interaction. The novelty of this article lies in developing a synthesis that connects psychological factors, social processes, digital behavior, and their consequences in the lives of high school students, and subsequently translates them into the needs of Guidance and Counseling services. The discussion indicates that addressing FOMO cannot be achieved solely by limiting social media use, but should also be directed toward strengthening self-control, digital literacy, the ability to cope with social pressure, assertive behavior, and independent decision-making.