The shortcut FOMO is specific because it has appeared relatively lately among online gamers and game productions. FOMO is an acronym for "Fear of Missing Out”, nevertheless there are hidden lots of details. FOMO can affect various aspects of life, such as social relationships, career opportunities, personal goals, and self-esteem.


The phenomenon is used more and more by game developers and producers.

In online games, FOMO can manifest in different ways, such as:

- Feeling compelled to play a game constantly or excessively to keep up with other players or avoid missing out on limited-time events, rewards, or updates.

- Feeling dissatisfied with one's own gaming achievements or progress compared to others who seem to have more fun, success, or prestige in the game.

- Feeling pressured to buy or spend money on in-game items, subscriptions, or microtransactions to access exclusive content or features that others have.

- Feeling jealous or resentful of other players who have more resources, skills, friends, or recognition in the game community.


In my opinion, FOMO in online games can have negative consequences for one's mental health and well-being. It can lead to addiction to video games, a condition that the World Health Organization has classified as a mental disorder. It can also cause stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, social isolation, and financial problems


To cope with FOMO in online games, some possible strategies are:

- Setting realistic and healthy goals and boundaries for one's gaming time and spending.

- Focusing on one's own enjoyment and satisfaction rather than comparing oneself to others.

- Seeking balance and variety in one's life by engaging in other hobbies and activities outside of gaming.

- Developing positive and supportive relationships with other gamers who share similar interests and values.

- Practicing gratitude and mindfulness for what one has rather than what one lacks.


Fear of missing out



Bibliography

1. Przybylski, A. K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C. R., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1841-1848.

2. Przybylski, A. K., Weinstein, N., Murayama, K., Lynch, M. F., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). The ideal self at play: The appeal of video games that let you be all you can be. Psychological Science, 23(1), 69-76. 

3. Wall, J. D., & Buche, M. W. (2017). To Fear or Not to Fear? A Critical Review and Analysis of Fear Appeals in the Information Security Context. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 41.