The Fear of Missing Out: Navigating the Impact on Consumer Decision-Making in Relation to Product Purchases in the Metaverse

The metaverse is experiencing a resurgence, embodying a digital realm constructed through technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, cryptocurrency, and the internet. Metaverse is trending and widely discussed topic. Companies are still intensely weighing the pros and cons of joining this space, and it is not an easy decision for them to make. Thus, there is a clear need for studies that clarify the perception and intention of using the metaverse by the users for purchasing the products, to make this decision easier. Therefore, this study focused on investigating the relationship between attitude and intention to purchase products in the metaverse and the user's level of "Fear of Missing Out" (FoMO) as a phenomenon that is currently significantly influencing consumers. The questionnaire was used for collecting the primary data. The research sample consisted of 425 respondents overall. The findings indicate that individuals within the cluster exhibiting heightened levels of FoMO tend to perceive metaverse product purchases as less sensible. Intriguingly, despite this lower perceived sensibility, over half of the individuals in this cluster express an intention to engage in metaverse-based purchases. Additionally, this particular cluster emerges as having the most pronounced inclination to purchase in the metaverse as soon as possible. Implications for Central European audience: The outputs offer valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of users' perceptions and intentions concerning metaverse-based product purchases. These insights can serve as a foundation for refining marketing strategies, tailoring product offerings, and developing targeted initiatives that resonate with the specific concerns and motivations of the Central European audience. Ultimately, the study's outputs contribute to fostering a more informed and strategically aligned approach to navigating the evolving landscape of metaverse-related consumer activities.