I’m sure we have all felt it before. You check your Instagram or Snapchat to see all of your friends are out and about while you’re at home, “Netflix and Chillin'” with your pals Ben & Jerry, feeling major FOMO. Social media has created a heightened awareness of what everyone else is doing, making us more aware of everything we aren’t. This is what creates that feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out). We can all agree that social media represents the highlighted, glamorous aspects of our lives. No one is going to post a photo of themselves spiraling in the Strozier library at 2 AM during finals week; they are going to post a throwback picture of themselves on the beach with the caption “Wish I was here instead of studying!” Despite the fact that we are all aware of this, we still find ourselves comparing our lives, looks and content to others on these platforms. We mindlessly scrolls for hours, many of us far past our bedtimes, seeking some sort of instant gratification. Instead we are left with a low self-esteem, lack of sleep and FOMO.
This is a large factor in the increase of anxiety and decrease in happiness seen among young adults today. Take a look at what Rhys Edmonds, and science, has to say about the way social media affects how we view ourselves, others and our experiences.
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 