Fear of missing out (FoMO) among social media users: a systematic literature review, synthesis and framework for future research
Open accessAbstract
Purpose Research examining the “fear of missing out” (FoMO) is increasingly prominent, with a growing number of studies exploring this phenomenon. Despite the increased academic interest, no attempts have been made to synthesize extant knowledge on FoMO. There is limited holistic understanding of its conceptualization and operationalization. To address this gap, an exhaustive systematic literature review (SLR) on FoMO is presented. Design/methodology/approach Systematic review protocols and content analysis was used to analyze and synthesize insights from 58 empirical studies obtained from four academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and PsycINFO. Findings Significant diversity in prior research on FoMO was encapsulated in four themes. There are significant limitations in conceptualization of FoMO, along with narrow focus on geographic, methodological and contextual foci of prior studies. The authors propose a comprehensive framework and extensive gap-specific research directions to aid future research. Research limitations/implications The SLR is limited in its consideration of empirical studies published in academic journal articles obtained from four databases. Social implications The authors imply the critical need to ascertain motives for individuals' excessive engagement with social media and the subsequent impact on well-being indicators (e.g. sleep quality) and functional impairments (e.g. addiction). Originality/value This study magnifies and expands the i…
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The association between FoMO and PSMU is well-established.
“The association between FoMO and PSMU is well-established.”
From Fear of missing out and psychological well-being: Examining the dual pathways of problematic social media use and digital burnout (2026) · cites this paper as Tandon et al., 2021
FoMO can be a risk factor that triggers PSMU tendencies by intensifying individuals' need for social approval.
“FoMO can be a risk factor that triggers PSMU tendencies by intensifying indivi duals' need for social approval (Tandon et al., 2021).”
From Fear of missing out and psychological well-being: Examining the dual pathways of problematic social media use and digital burnout (2026) · cites this paper as Tandon et al., 2021
FoMO creates a compulsive urge to stay connected, which can escalate into addictive patterns of social media use.
“FoMO creates a compulsive urge to stay connected, which can escalate into addictive patterns of social media use (Tandon et al., 2021).”
From Fear of missing out and psychological well-being: Examining the dual pathways of problematic social media use and digital burnout (2026) · cites this paper as Tandon et al., 2021
FoMO was positively associated with PSMU.
“Consistent with prior research (e.g. Przybylski et al., 2013; Tandon et al., 2021), FoMO was positively associated with PSMU and DBO, and negatively predicted psychological well-being.”
From Fear of missing out and psychological well-being: Examining the dual pathways of problematic social media use and digital burnout (2026) · cites this paper as Tandon et al., 2021
FoMO negatively predicted psychological well-being.
“Consistent with prior research (e.g. Przybylski et al., 2013; Tandon et al., 2021), FoMO was positively associated with PSMU and DBO, and negatively predicted psychological well-being.”
From Fear of missing out and psychological well-being: Examining the dual pathways of problematic social media use and digital burnout (2026) · cites this paper as Tandon et al., 2021
FoMO was positively associated with DBO.
“Consistent with prior research (e.g. Przybylski et al., 2013; Tandon et al., 2021), FoMO was positively associated with PSMU and DBO, and negatively predicted psychological well-being.”
From Fear of missing out and psychological well-being: Examining the dual pathways of problematic social media use and digital burnout (2026) · cites this paper as Tandon et al., 2021
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“Across several studies, Tandon et al. (2021) observed that an individual experiencing an advanced level of FoMO may use a greater number of social media platforms and suffer distress from problematic use.”
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“Examples include fear of missing out (Tandon et al. 2021a), cyberloa fi ng and cyberslacking (Tandon et al. 2021b), jealousy (Tandon, Dhir, and Mäntymäki 2021c), sleep problems (Kaur et al. 2021a), professional development (Bruguera, Guitert, and Romeu 2019; Tian, Freeman, and Stefaniak 2020), human…”
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“However, there is a lack of evidence regarding whether such effects also hold for wFoMO [13].”
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“FOMO refers to an anxiety that one has been excluded from an event and realizing this when images show up on social media (Tandon et al., 2021).”
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“…this study sheds light on developing triple perspectives of current challenges in pre-owned automobile transactions, the scope of blockchain in pre-owned automobile transactions, and concerns regarding blockchain adoption in pre-owned automobile trans-actions (Madhani, 2010; Tandon et al., 2021).”
The relationship between Big Five personality traits and fear of missing out: A meta-analysis
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“Third, we explored the negative effects of interdependent self-construal on FoMO, to address the literature gap regarding the effect of personality trait variables on FoMO (Tandon et al., 2021b).”
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“The link between social media and the FoMO is one of the most discussed topics by researchers.(1,2) Social media has become an essential instrument among the general public, especially young people, to socialize and entertain themselves in the digital era.”
BackgroundJo, H., Yang, F., & Yan, Q. (2022) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/14614448221130476 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“Young adults are significantly more likely to use ICTs, particularly social media, largely due to their “desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing” (Przybylski et al., 2013: 1841),” aka FoMO (Reer et al., 2019; Tandon et al., 2021).”
van Zoonen, W., Treem, J. W., & Sivunen, A. E. (2022) · Internet Research · doi:10.1108/intr-05-2021-0341 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Çelik, F., Köseoğlu, M. A., & Elhai, J. D. (2022) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2022.2097783 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“As can be seen in Table 1, these studies have included an overview (Elhai, Yang, et al., 2021), systematic literature review (Tandon, Dhir, Almugren et al., 2021), and meta-analytic research (Akbari et al., 2021; Fioravanti et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2021).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialWang, Y., Sun, Y., & Li, T. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477239 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Klütsch, J., Schwab, J., Böffel, C., Zimmermann, V., & Schlittmeier, S. J. (2024) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-024-03412-8 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“We aim to provide deeper insight into these by investigating the impact of the user ’ s relation to the message sender and an often observed phenomenon in social media: Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) (Tandon et al., 2021).”
Caba-Machado, V., McIlroy, D., & Padilla-Adamuz, F. M. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-05934-5 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“Therefore, cross-cultural studies are of key importance in this area of research (Tandon et al., 2021), because understanding sociocultural factors and the environment in which the usage takes place, can provide new resources to develop a more adaptive and responsible usage that do not compromise…”
Understanding the failing of social gamification: A perspective of user fatigue
Yang, H., Wang, L., Hu, Z., & Li, D. (2024) · Electronic Commerce Research and Applications · doi:10.1016/j.elerap.2024.101369 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Riordan, B. C., Conner, T., Scarf, D., Winter, T., Mason, A., Anderson-Luxford, D., & Kuntsche, E. (2023) · Journal of Substance Use · doi:10.1080/14659891.2023.2288846 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“Thus, FoMO research has predominantly focused on the relationship between FoMO and social media or technology use in young adults and mental health (Tandon et al., 2021).”
PTSD, FOMO and fake news beliefs: a cross-sectional study of Wenchuan earthquake survivors
Gong, C., & Ren, Y.-J. (2023) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-023-17151-z · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“FOMO is skewed towards negative outcomes, which also explains depressive symptoms and PTSD respectively [17].”
BackgroundInfluentialAdolescent Screen Time Associated with Risk Factor of Fear of Missing Out During Pandemic COVID-19
Amran, M., & Jamaluddin, K. A. (2022) · Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking · doi:10.1089/cyber.2021.0308 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“These themes were derived from the findings of the interviews and based on the findings of previous studies that indicated that loneliness, life satisfaction, self-disclosure, and social comparison are among the effects of FOMO 16,17,20,52,53 (Table 2).”
Argan, M. T., Koçak, F., Gürbüz, B., Argan, M., & Dinç, H. (2024) · World Leisure Journal · doi:10.1080/16078055.2023.2244452 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“Tandon et al. (2021) proposed that individuals experiencing FoMO may lead to engagement in persistent and deliberate interactions with others who are part of their online social group.”
BackgroundSelf-regulation and panic buying: examining the brake mechanism effect on fear of missing out
Anisimova, T., Billore, S., & Kitchen, P. J. (2024) · Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics · doi:10.1108/apjml-12-2023-1254 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Flack, M., Burton, W. H., & Caudwell, K. M. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05834-9 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“Such refinement will allow for greater understanding of its relationships with the broad range of problematic internet use behaviours that have emerged since its inception over ten years ago [40].”
Background#ProblematicInstaUser: Motivations and the mediating role of fear of missing out among young adults
Sun, J. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-02775-y · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Sitar‐Tăut, D., Mican, D., Frömbling, L., & Sarstedt, M. (2021) · Social Science Computer Review · doi:10.1177/08944393211065872 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“Prior research has shown that social support is, for example, negatively related to depression, anxiety (Qi et al., 2020), and fear of missing out (Tandon et al., 2021).”
BackgroundKhoa, B. T. (2025) · Journal of theoretical and applied electronic commerce research · doi:10.3390/jtaer20020145 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Binder, A., Stevic, A., Matthes, J., & Thomas, M. F. (2024) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/14614448241270542 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“Overall, studies largely showed the individual experience of FOMO can cause some forms of problematic media use especially related to online media (for an overview see Tandon et al., 2021).”
Ji, C.-L., Li, K.-F., & He, Q. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-05753-8 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“Particularly, very few empirical research have explored the mediating effect of FoMO (Tandon et al., 2021 ).”
InfluentialLi, J., Xue, W., Zhao, J.-F., & Tan, L.-W. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03435-x · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Lloyd, J., Nicklin, L. L., Spicer, S. G., Fullwood, C., Uther, M., Hinton, D. P., Parke, J., Lloyd, H. M., & Close, J. (2021) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm10245949 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“…nature of many loot boxes could be an important factor in their appeal [14], and fear of missing out (“FoMO”) has been studied extensively as a motivator of engagement with online activities—particularly social media [60], but has also more recently been studied in a gaming disorder context [61].”
BackgroundChen, Y.-H. (2025) · Universal Access in the Information Society · doi:10.1007/s10209-025-01205-7 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“The fear of missing out (FoMO) is a strong, persistent, and pervasive psychological state that may enhance an individual’s psychological responses to related technology use - for example, stress, insecurity, insomnia, and even depression [58, 59 ].”
Balcerowska, J., & Brailovskaia, J. (2024) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2024.108240 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Chashmi, S. J. E., Aruguete, M., Sadri, M., Montag, C., & Shahrajabian, F. (2023) · Social Science Research Network · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4358025 · Cited by 15
Lin, S.-C., & Jian, E.-T. (2022) · Behavioral Science · doi:10.3390/bs12110460 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
The Influence of FOMO on Shopping Motivation and Compulsive Buying in Young Adults
Barbu-Kleitsch, O., & Drămnescu, B. (2025) · Journalism and Media · doi:10.3390/journalmedia6030139 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“Thus, for young adults, especially those navigating identity formation, social and peer acceptance, FOMO-induced shopping may serve deeper psychosocial functions (Arnett, 2004; Hodkinson, 2019; Tandon et al., 2021).”
InfluentialVomacka, T., & Buzzanell, P. M. (2024) · Management Communication Quarterly · doi:10.1177/08933189241280889 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“” Jackie was not expressing FOMO (fear of missing out) that operates in ordinary circumstances (Tandon et al., 2021) but her fear that technologically-mediated interactions and lack of casual meetings and routines could prove detrimental to her career stability ( “ I am going to be up for review …”…”
He, Q., & Zeng, Z. (2024) · Communication and the Public · doi:10.1177/20570473241239359 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“In the existing literature, almost all studies show that FoMO is a predisposing factor for negative behavior, especially in digital contexts (Hayran et al., 2020; Tandon et al., 2021).”
Fauziah, F., Nurlenawati, N., & Triadinda, D. (2025) · JURNAL LENTERA BISNIS · doi:10.34127/jrlab.v14i2.1478 · Cited by 13
“Namun, meskipun media sosial dapat meningkatkan FoMo, konten media sosial cenderung lebih berfungsi untuk meningkatkan ketertarikan konsumen daripada langsung mendorong keputusan pembelian (Tandon et al., 2021).”
Li, Y., & Liu, R. (2025) · Journal of Enterprise Information Management · doi:10.1108/jeim-08-2024-0466 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Packer, J., & Flack, M. (2023) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-023-01094-y · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“Furthermore, it is proposed that FOMO may lead to a proclivity to connect with others that in turn drives the excessive and harmful use of social media (Boustead & Flack, 2021; Fuster et al., 2017; Tandon et al., 2021).”
Jiao, C., Cui, M., & Fincham, F. (2024) · Journal of Adult Development · doi:10.1007/s10804-024-09478-7 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“We used a short-term longitudinal design to examine the trajectories of helicopter parenting, FOMO, and social anxiety, thereby addressing a significant gap in previous research (e.g., Cui et al., 2022 ; Tandon et al., 2021 ).”
Li, F., Chen, L., Huang, L., & Ma, S. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477306 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students
Lin, Y., & Huang, P. (2024) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104674 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Examining compulsive use of social media: the dual effects of individual needs and peer influence
Wang, W., Chen, R. R., & Yang, X. (2023) · Industrial management & data systems · doi:10.1108/imds-10-2022-0631 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Validation of the Perceived Phubbing Scale to the Argentine Context
Etchezahar, E. D., Durao, M., Genol, M. Á. A., & Muller, M. (2023) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs13020192 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“delving deeper into the relationship between FoMO and perceived phubbing, because due to the novelty of the concept of phubbing, there are a limited number of studies that analyze its scope [29].”
BackgroundYang, H., Zhang, S., & Yang, Z. (2022) · Kybernetes · doi:10.1108/k-12-2021-1328 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Fat stigma and body objectification: A text analysis approach using social media content
Wanniarachchi, V. U., Scogings, C., Sušnjak, T., & Mathrani, A. (2022) · Digital Health · doi:10.1177/20552076221117404 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Rani, N., Yaqub, M., Singh, N., & Magliocca, P. (2024) · Journal of Knowledge Management · doi:10.1108/jkm-04-2024-0494 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Jowey, G. F. M., Ferli, O., Wijaya, E., & Haryanti, E. (2024) · Greenation International Journal of Economics and Accounting · doi:10.38035/gijea.v2i2.212 · Cited by 10
“FOMO can also occur when we make a decision just because everyone else is doing it and you ignore your digital presence (Tandon et.al, 2021).”
Revolutionizing education: unleashing the power of social media in Saudi Arabian public universities
Alshammari, M., المعمري, Y. H. S. A.-M. د. ي. ح., & Abubakar, A. (2024) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-024-03313-w · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“The use of social media has excessively increased globally during the last decade (Tandon et al., 2021).”
Almeida, F., Pires, L., Marques, D. R., & Gomes, A. (2024) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-05583-0 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Keeping up with one's social circle and their activities is a key component of FoMO (Tandon et al., 2021).”
InfluentialHu, Z., Zhu, Y., Li, J. Y., Liu, J.-F., & Fu, M.-Z. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0290577 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Studies suggest that individuals experience greater levels of FoMO when their social needs are unmet [71, 72].”
Background
- Authors
- Tandon, A., Dhir, A., Almugren, I., AlNemer, G. N., & Mäntymäki, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Turku (FI)
- University of Agder (NO)
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (SA)
- Venue
- Internet Research
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 2021-02-12
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 782-821
- ISSN
- 1066-2243 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3129941792
- Cited by
- 315
- References
- 95
- Citations by year
- 2026: 55 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 17
- FWCI
- 9.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Internet Research (publishedVersion)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Digital Media and Philosophy
- Social Sciences › Demography › Cyberloafing and Workplace Behavior
- Keywords
- fear of missing out, social media use, social media engagement, operationalization, research gaps, sleep quality, social media addiction, well-being, cultural differences
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