No matter the generation, if you’re a teenager, it’s hard to think of worst things that could happen to you than becoming a social outcast. The need to belong takes center stage in defining your behavior when you’re at that phase in life. What’s unique about today’s generation of teenagers is the role technology plays in enabling them to stay in-tune with what’s developing in the social grapevine, as Vanessa van Petten wrote in her blog.
As a sophomore, I started to realize that I was becoming increasingly distracted by websites like Facebook, YouTube, and Tumblr, and by the numerous texts my friends would send as I calculated algebra problems and attempted to write quality essays. My mom suggested that I delete my Facebook or that I shut my phone off and block texts while busy. Gasping at her, I responded that I could not do either. I felt that someone may need my help, I may miss an important event, or I would go to school feeling “out of the loop” and confused.
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The Fear of Missing Out Syndrome (shortened to FOMO) is said to be the fear of missing an event, not being invited to an event, or missing out on popular information. In today’s technologically advanced world, it is easy for teens to see when friends are having a get together and “forgot to invite” them, or when everyone else knew that the teen’s best friend had a fling with their long time crush – except for them.
Complete article here: http://www.radicalparenting.com/2011/12/16/the-fomo-syndrome-fear-of-missing-out/
Teens are relying on technology to overcome FOMO, even though the kind of technology that teens have access to are not really that reliable: their mobile phones are likely hand-me-downs; the amount of airtime/data plan they have available is never enough (controlled by parents); and they could lose access to their device completely if parents chose to confiscate the phone for whatever reason.
Still, teens find their own ways to meet FOMO head on. In the old days, we did it by sneaking out of the house, or secretly using the landline phone when our parents were sleeping. Today, we’re seeing teenagers hacking their iPods so they can send SMS to their friends when their parents took away their phones.
How has FOMO played a part in your own teenage days? Are you seeing similar things happening with teenagers today?
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