Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and the Vlogger Phenomenon: Understanding the Risks for Kids

By Shadia Sbait- Gordon Academic College of Education

The rise of social media influencers, especially vloggers, has created a new landscape for children and teens, one filled with both opportunity and risk. Among the risks is the amplified experience of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), fueled by the curated and often unrealistic portrayals of life presented by vloggers. This article explores the link between FOMO, vlogging, and internet safety for children.

Understanding FOMO

FOMO is the anxiety that one is missing out on potentially rewarding social experiences. While everyone experiences FOMO from time to time, the constant stream of curated content in social media—especially visually appealing and exciting content from vloggers—can greatly exacerbate these feelings. Vloggers often portray highly edited versions of their lives that focus on the positive, fun aspects, creating an unrealistic image of what a “perfect” or “successful” life looks like.

The Vlogger Phenomenon and its Impact

Vloggers, particularly those with significant followings, have become influential figures for many young people. Their seemingly effortless lifestyles, often characterized by travel, exciting activities, and valuable possessions, can create a powerful sense of envy and FOMO. The constant stream of updates and visually stimulating content further intensifies the pressure.

• Idealized Images: Vlogs rarely portray the struggles, challenges, and less-glamorous aspects of life. This idealized representation can lead to feelings of inadequacy and a distorted perception of reality in young viewers.
• Social Comparison: Children and teens naturally compare themselves to others. The highly curated nature of vlogging can make these comparisons particularly difficult, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
• Pressure to Keep Up: The constant exposure to seemingly perfect lives online can create pressure on young viewers to keep up, which may involve risky behavior (spending beyond their means, neglecting schoolwork, or engaging in excessive social media use).
• Addiction to Content: The addictive nature of online videos and the algorithm-driven nature of social media platforms may cause children and teens to spend excessive amounts of time watching vlogs, at the cost of other crucial activities.

How to Mitigate the Risks

Parents, educators, and other professionals play a crucial role in helping children navigate the potential pitfalls of the vlogging phenomenon.

For Parents:

• Open Communication: Talk to your child about the content they consume online and how it makes them feel. Encourage them to discuss feelings of envy or inadequacy.
• Media Literacy: Teach your child critical thinking skills, enabling them to evaluate the authenticity and realism of online content. Emphasize that what they see online isn’t always a true reflection of reality.
• Set Healthy Limits: Establish reasonable screen time limits and ensure that other activities (sports, hobbies, face-to-face social interaction) aren’t neglected.
• Model Healthy Behavior: Parents should model healthy social media usage and avoid excessive time online.

For Educators:

• Incorporate Media Literacy into the Curriculum: Teach students about the techniques used in creating videos (editing, filters, etc.) to help them better understand how online content is presented.
• Discuss Social Comparison: Facilitate discussions about the unrealistic nature of social media portrayals and the importance of focusing on one’s own unique journey and experiences.
• Promote Healthy Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Help students develop the social-emotional skills needed to cope with peer pressure and maintain a healthy sense of self.

For Professionals:

• Research and Awareness: Continue to conduct research that explores the impact of influencers and social media on children’s mental health. Share your findings with parents and educators through easily accessible materials.
• Develop Resources and Interventions: Create evidence-based resources to help children and families develop healthy relationships with social media and vloggers.
• Advocate for Policy Changes: Support policies that protect children from harmful online content and promote responsible social media usage.

Conclusion

The vlogging phenomenon presents both opportunities and significant challenges for children. By understanding FOMO’s impact and empowering children with the critical thinking skills and social-emotional learning they need to navigate the online world, we can help protect them from the potentially harmful effects of social media and promote a healthier relationship with technology.

References:

Iwanicka, A. (2022). Social media and influencers in the lives of teenagers. Edukacyjna Analiza Transakcyjna, (11), 55-70.

Miguel, C., Lutz, C., Majetić, F., Perez Vega, R., & Sánchez-Razo, M. (2023). It’s not all shiny and glamorous: loneliness and fear of missing out among digital nomads. Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.