The Joy of

Missing Out

An Educational Project

Our Purpose

Social media can perpetuate F.O.M.O, giving us the idea that our lives are not good enough, and therefore we have to constantly look for a distraction and stimulation, without realising that we already have all we need. We have decided to seize upon F.O.M.O’s positive counterpart known as J.O.M.O, the joy of missing out.

With J.O.M.O being a generally unheard of concept that lacks any serious development and implementation into society, we felt as thought we could bring a new and interesting take onto this concept, bringing it into mainstream society for all to practise. Placing a need for individuals to feel content and fulfilled within their own lives, no longer needing to find fulfilment elsewhere.

Unlike most campaigns that are based around negative effects of social media, we don’t aim to scare, shock or pressure social media users to give up the platform altogether. But rather we want to engage in communication with audiences, advocating for a balanced use of social media, where one is aware of the negative effects it can have on their life but now has tools such as J.O.M.O that assist them in engaging in healthy usage.

Our Context

2004

The spread and most notable origin of F.O.M.O (fear of missing out) can be seen to occur alongside the launch and subsequent popularity of Facebook in 2004. Being the catalyst for a global change in behaviour.

2011 - 2013

F.O.M.O became a recognised threat as well as opportunity. With corporations beginning to purposely use F.O.M.O as a means to attract sales and take advantage of consumers, as well as the first academic text written on the concept by social psychologist Andrew Przybylskia.

Current

56% of social media users currently experience F.O.M.O with 205 of them experiencing it more than once a month.
31% of those aged 18 to 34 having considered taking a break from one social media.
Females on average experience F.O.M.O more frequently than males although there is only a slight variation in this statistic.
As well as the frequency of experiencing F.O.M.O decreasing for those over 24 years of age.