The COVID-19 pandemic made us spend more time online – online learning, remote work, contacts with family and friends. All this means that we are using the social media space more and more. Despite the undoubted advantages of this method of communication, we must be very careful not to fall into the trap from which it can be very difficult to get out of later.

Such a digital trap may be the little known phenomena of FOMO, MOMO and FOJI.

Research carried out in Poland on these phenomena has shown that 16% of Polish internet users are highly qualified, another 65% belong to the mid FOMO group, and only 19% – to the group with the lowest FOMO (low FOMO). . It is worth mentioning that the number of internet users in the country is currently estimated at 26.9 million people (PBI, 2018). Such an estimate of the number of Internet users means that several million Internet users (aged 15 and over) already suffer from the FOMO phenomenon. These data come from a publication prepared by the team of A. Jupowicz-Ginalska (FOMO. Poles and the fear of disconnection. Research report, Warsaw 2018). These phenomena seem to be gaining momentum, hence it is worth mentioning a few words about them.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Obsessive checking of posts, panicking to every sound of the phone, constantly posting on social media, browsing news headlines non-stop, involuntarily reaching for the phone at any free moment, being online 24/7. Fear of being missed is a form of social anxiety. Its background is considered to be, inter alia, low self-esteem, feeling constant pressure from peers, the need for acceptance or belonging to a group.

This phenomenon may also apply to interpersonal relations in the “offline” world, but it is the development of new media that has made FOMO suffer more and more people.

MOMO (Mystery of Missing Out).

It’s kind of paranoid about the things they miss. Such people feel anxious when their friends do not post new posts on social media. They assume everyone is having a great time and doing such interesting things that they don’t have time to report on them. Some people even fear that others won’t show them what they’re doing because they don’t like them.

FOJI (Fear of Joining In)

It is a fear of joining the course of events, especially on social networks. Fear that the photos, comments or posts you have posted will not be of interest to other users. You are afraid that they will not be interesting enough, no one will like and comment on them.

So what is the cure for the above phenomena?

JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)

It is an alternative to Fomo, Momo and Foji phenomena.

It is enjoying being outside the virtual world. You don’t have to compare yourself to the images created by others on social media. Instead of checking what is happening online, read a book, go to the theater, cinema, roller skating, to a fitness club, meet friends and mute the phone …

or go on a journey and explore the world – maybe Erasmus, when the pandemic is over? 😊