SocialIs “FOMO” something to worry about? More Social terms
FOMO
Fear Of Missing Out. The anxiety that comes from seeing others doing things you're not part of, particularly on social media.
How kids use it
FOMO is a significant driver of unhealthy social media use. Research links it to anxiety, depression, and compulsive phone checking. Worth discussing as part of conversations about how social media makes people feel.
No — "FOMO" is ordinary 2026 teen vocabulary, not a warning sign. Knowing it just makes you harder to talk past.
- Use it slightly wrong at dinner. You’ll get an eye-roll and a free vocabulary lesson.
- If you’re seeing it alongside apps you don’t recognize, run the 30-second check Is it safe? checker →