Relationship Between FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) and the Use of Social Media Among People Aged 18 to 35 in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica During the Second Semester of 2025

Abstract

The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), defined as the anxiety of potentially missing social experiences, has become increasingly relevant in recent years due to intensive social media use. Recent studies link it to loneliness, depression, and the need for belonging, effects amplified by the immediacy of digital information and algorithms that prioritize emotionally charged content. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook influence reality perception, encouraging social comparison and feelings of exclusion.

The combination of FoMO and constant social media use creates a feedback cycle that reinforces digital dependency and worsens emotional consequences. International research highlights how this phenomenon was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, initially reducing FoMO during lockdowns, but later increasing the pressure to remain connected and informed.

In Costa Rica, particularly in the Greater Metropolitan Area, constant internet access exposes young people aged 18 to 35 to idealized lifestyles, travel experiences, and achievements, intensifying personal dissatisfaction and comparison. Despite abundant international evidence, there is limited local research on how FoMO and social media use affect this age group—a stage critical for identity formation and interpersonal relationships.

This context underscores the need to examine FoMO’s impact on mental health and social life among Costa Rican youth, leading to the research question: What is the relationship between FoMO and social media use in the Greater Metropolitan Area during the second semester of 2025?