FOMO in the Digital Age: How Social Media Influences Teenagers' Psychological Well-Being

Social media has become an important part of adolescents' everyday lives, providing opportunities for communication, social connection, and self-expression. However, constant exposure to other people's activities may also contribute to the fear of missing out (FoMO), a persistent concern that others are experiencing rewarding or meaningful events without oneself. This review examines how social media-related FoMO may be associated with teenagers' psychological well-being. Drawing on recent research, the review focuses on the relationships between FoMO, social comparison, self-esteem, anxiety, stress, sleep, and problematic social media use. The evidence suggests that FoMO is consistently associated with problematic patterns of social media use and may be linked to poorer psychological outcomes, although these relationships should not be interpreted as proof of direct causation. Individual factors, including self-esteem, social support, and patterns of online engagement, may influence how adolescents respond to social media. At the same time, social media can provide meaningful social connection and emotional support, indicating that its effects are not uniformly negative. The review therefore argues that promoting healthier digital habits should focus not only on reducing screen time but also on improving adolescents' awareness of their online behavior, reducing harmful social comparison, establishing reasonable boundaries, and maintaining meaningful offline relationships and activities.