The Issue With FOMO

How Fear of Missing Out Affects Your College Experience

By Gabi Drobot, Assistant Editor

FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is a concept that Gen Z students, like many of us, are familiar with. Growing up in a media-savvy era has impacted our young minds in ways we often do not realize.

FOMO in college students can largely be attributed to one primary cause: social media.

We can access what our peers are doing at any moment by simply taking out our phones, which leads to the feeling that someone is constantly doing something more fun or exhilarating.

However, one thing that escapes college students’ minds: Everything they see on social media is simply a highlight reel.

Trying to maintain the ideal college experience portrayed in entertainment quickly becomes unattainable and figuring out the time to complete everything on your plate can be overwhelming. While trying to accomplish all these tasks, opening your phone to see your friends enjoying themselves without you can become a distraction.

“Whenever I open Snapchat or Instagram, I always see videos of other people doing fun things,” said Ben Brown, a sophomore. “Usually, when I see these posts in class, I wish I was there. Everyone has class at different times, so it gets hard trying to be everywhere at once.”

FOMO for the average college student is already prominent, but those who are also working throughout college tend to experience this feeling more frequently.

“I work at night, so once everyone is out of classes and doing fun stuff together, I am just sitting at work,” said Brown. “It’s the hardest on Friday nights.”

Usually, when others post their every move on social media, they are using it to portray a more exciting view of their lives. In reality, that may not be the case.

Social media is not always honest and trying to believe that when entering these stages of FOMO is overwhelmingly complex.

“I just try to remember that there will always be another time where I am available to hang out and maybe it will be even better,” said Brown. “It’s much easier said than done.”

Some of the best ways to help get over FOMO is by spending more quality time on your own. That may sound remarkably reversed, but it allows us to become more comfortable being alone.

The college experience shown in the media is all about partying and being with friends all the time, but for many, that is unrealistic. Spending time working on yourself is the best way to eradicate these symptoms of FOMO.

Becoming comfortable spending time alone is not only beneficial in dealing with FOMO symptoms, but in the long run, it can help create a solid foundation for your independence as an adult.

Creating a healthy balance of living the stereotypical college experience and your own experience is easily attainable and looks different for everyone. Many do not find joy in the binge drinking, partying culture that is the cliché college experience.

Make college about you and do not dwell on what could have been. There is no one-size-fits-all experience.

FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is a concept that Gen Z students, like many of us, are familiar with. Growing up in a media-savvy era has impacted our young minds in ways we often do not realize.

FOMO in college students can largely be attributed to one primary cause: social media.

We can access what our peers are doing at any moment by simply taking out our phones, which leads to the feeling that someone is constantly doing something more fun or exhilarating.

However, one thing that escapes  college students’ minds: Everything they see on social media is simply a highlight reel.

Trying to maintain the ideal college experience portrayed in entertainment quickly becomes unattainable and figuring out the time to complete everything on your plate can be overwhelming. While trying to accomplish all these tasks, opening your phone to see your friends enjoying themselves without you can become a distraction.

“Whenever I open Snapchat or Instagram, I always see videos of other people doing fun things,” said Ben Brown, a sophomore. “Usually, when I see these posts in class, I wish I was there. Everyone has class at different times, so it gets hard trying to be everywhere at once.”

FOMO for the average college student is already prominent, but those who are also working throughout college tend to experience this feeling more frequently.

“I work at night, so once everyone is out of classes and doing fun stuff together, I am just sitting at work,” said Brown. “It’s the hardest on Friday nights.”

Usually, when others post their every move on social media, they are using it to portray a more exciting view of their lives. In reality, that may not be the case.

Social media is not always honest and trying to believe that when entering these stages of FOMO is overwhelmingly complex.

“I just try to remember that there will always be another time where I am available to hang out and maybe it will be even better,” said Brown. “It’s much easier said than done.”

Some of the best ways to help get over FOMO is by spending more quality time on your own. That may sound remarkably reversed, but it allows us to become more comfortable being alone.

The college experience shown in the media is all about partying and being with friends all the time, but for many, that is unrealistic. Spending time working on yourself is the best way to eradicate these symptoms of FOMO.

Becoming comfortable spending time alone is not only beneficial in dealing with FOMO symptoms, but in the long run, it can help create a solid foundation for your independence as an adult.

Creating a healthy balance of living the stereotypical college experience and your own experience is easily attainable and looks different for everyone. Many do not find joy in the binge drinking, partying culture that is the cliché college experience.

Make college about you and do not dwell on what could have been. There is no one-size-fits-all experience.