FOMO stands for Fear Of Missing Out. It is an anxious feeling that you might be missing exciting or rewarding experiences that others are having, often triggered by seeing what others are doing on social media or in real life
. The term was coined in 2004 by Patrick McGinnis during his time at Harvard Business School and has since become widely used to describe the pervasive apprehension of missing out on social events, opportunities, or experiences
. FOMO is characterized by a desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing and can lead to feelings of anxiety, regret, and dissatisfaction. It has been linked to negative psychological effects such as depression and lowered quality of life, especially due to social media exposure
. In summary, FOMO means the fear or worry that you are missing out on something enjoyable or important happening elsewhere
