How Does Dr. K Explains: Fear-Of-Missing-Out ( FOMO ) Work?

FOMO is when you worry that something fun or important is happening right now, and you might miss out on it if you don’t join in.

Imagine you're at a playground with your best friend, and they run off to play on the swings. You think, “Oh no! What if they’re having so much fun without me?” That’s FOMO, like being worried you'll miss the most exciting game because you didn't go along when it started.

FOMO is like a robot inside your brain that says, “Don’t stay here, something better might be happening elsewhere!” This robot gets louder when everyone around you seems to be having fun, and you're not sure what’s going on. It’s like hearing the bell ring for recess, but you’re still in math class.

You can tell your brain robot, “It’s okay, I’ll catch up later!” Maybe you’ll join the swings next time, or maybe you'll find a new game to play. Sometimes, staying where you are is just as fun, and that counts too!