FOMO, FOBO, and JOMO: Understanding Expressions Born in the Digital Age

With the global proliferation of smartphones, the volume of information we receive daily has significantly increased, as have the opportunities for distraction and loss of focus. In this reality, many feel the pressure to stay connected and informed about everything that’s happening — a situation exacerbated by the ease of connectivity offered by mobile devices. This has led to the creation of new terms to describe typical internet-related behaviors, with FOMO, FOBO, and JOMO being among the most prevalent.

Are we truly discussing phenomena that have abruptly emerged with the “contemporary digital era,” or are these merely new names for innate human traits, perhaps common to all great primates?

FOMO — “Fear of Missing Out”

FOMO is likely the most recognized acronym of the three. It describes the behavior of many who, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information, fear missing out on news they deem critically important. Those exhibiting FOMO behavior tend to become anxious if they spend too much time in areas without Wi-Fi or network signal, likely spending excessive amounts of time online once reconnected, often browsing irrelevant content. In essence, FOMO triggers anxiety when away from technology, especially during necessary breaks.

FOBO — “Fear of Better Options”

FOBO represents the fear of having better options, leading to decision-making difficulties because there always seems to be a better opportunity. Those affected by FOBO often have thoughts beginning with “what if…”

JOMO — “Joy of Missing Out”

The antonym of FOMO, JOMO translates to “the joy of missing out.” This term evolved from recognizing the harms of excessive screen time, such as increased anxiety and depression. Those with JOMO tendencies tend to be more selective about the content and information they consume.

Conclusion, Or Perhaps Not!

I could conclude by listing three symptoms of each condition and three ways to avoid them, with balance, introspection, and courage likely triumphing as solutions to everything. However, such information is readily available online or through any conversation with artificial intelligence (true or false without any perhaps). Therefore, I prefer a different approach…

It’s unfair to claim that various woes are specific to contemporary and younger generations, and it’s worse that they are beginning to feel inferior because of this. The truth is, as has always been the case with all generations, we are attempting to ignore our ancestral and innate anxieties. Our development and formation processes as Homo sapiens span thousands of years. If faith is required, then I have faith that FOMO, FOBO, and JOMO are themes relevant to any human, any great primate.

Imagine with me, returning to the times of Mesopotamia’s Fertile Crescent:

In the heart of the Fertile Crescent, an elder, eyes marked by time, would share with young apprentices eager to unravel the mysteries of existence, teachings about human anxieties now known as FOMO, FOBO, and JOMO. His words, laden with ancestral wisdom, would echo beneath the palm shadows, illustrating how these ancient fears affected entire generations long before ours.

• FOMO: In our days of harvests and feasts under the stars, observe the restlessness that arises when you hear of others’ banquets. This is the fear of not participating, which makes you feel as though every moment missed is an irreplaceable loss. Remember, young ones, that each choice carries with it the shadow of renunciation, but true fullness is found in being wholly where your body and spirit reside.
• FOBO: Like the merchant who, faced with multiple grains in the market, hesitates, fearing to choose the least valuable. This fear of making the wrong choice paralyzes you, trapping you in a labyrinth of indecisions. Know that wisdom does not reside in choosing the best of all paths, but in walking firmly and purposefully on the path you have chosen.
• JOBO: Consider the hermit who retreats to the mountains, seeking quietude beyond the tumult of the village. There is a secret joy in distancing oneself from the incessant voices and demands of the collective, to hear the silent whispers of one’s own soul. To withdraw in order to find oneself is not to escape, but to return to the roots of being, where the “true self” resides. Remember, do not be petrified by the medusa of desire for “oneself,” recognize yourself, return, let life forge you and “hermitize” yourself again and return in a finite spiral ended only by mortal frenzy.

The fear is a powerful ally when balanced!

While the philosophical conclusion is provocative, some readers might appreciate practical recommendations or discussions on managing FOMO, FOBO, and JOMO in daily life, offering more direct applicability to the article. Who wants to please such readers? I aim to provoke them to a deeper, more holistic, and timeless level of thought…

Prelude (Okay, it’s an Epilogue):

If you are expecting yet another superficial treatise on taming your digital anxieties with quick practical tips, this is not for you. This is not a guide for the faint-hearted or those seeking comfort in the recycled banalities that saturate our discourse. This is a call to the truly brave, to those who feel overwhelmed by their own strengths, willing to face the abyss of the human condition that echoes through millennia.

You will be confronted, not comforted. Challenged to rethink, not merely react. This is an invitation to dive deep into the ancestral roots of our contemporary anxieties, revealing that our “new” fears are as old as the first stars named by our ancestors. If this sounds challenging, it is meant to be. After all, true transformation is for the few who dare not just to read, but to reflect and evolve.

Now, truly, I am finished!