While FOMO – the fear of missing out – has been a topic in mainstream media for many years now, JOMO is a relatively new phenomenon. It was not until 2018 that the New York Times named the joy of missing out a new summer trend, drawing it to the attention of a broader public.
JOMO is a logical response to FOMO. A US study found that the younger generation is extremely stressed compared to older generations. A concerning 95% of respondents said they were stressed occasionally to very often.
The internet is thought to play a major role in this. 52% of respondents admitted to spending too much time online. And when they’re online, they compare their lives to others and the trends that are cool and in vogue.
Digital comparisons on social media lead to a constant feeling of overload. School, studies, and work already involve plenty of commitments, but in order to keep up with the seemingly exciting lives of social media friends, people are increasingly filling up their free time. Generation Z and Y place too high demands on themselves: they try to optimize their health with sport and nutrition, expand their skillset with meditation and self-learning, and maintain friendships with parties, concerts, and weekend trips.
But when, despite all efforts, their lives still seem far from the polished existence of Instagram stars, they feel dissatisfied. For this reason, 59% of generation Z members surveyed are actively trying to support their mental health and reduce stress. And quite a few are gladly turning to the joy of missing out as a result of this constant overload and permanent stress.