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SalvadorRosasFirstEssay 6 - 06 Dec 2019 - Main.SalvadorRosas
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The Fear of Missing Out
“FOMO” always seemed like a joke to me. It did not seem real. However, it is clear now more than ever, that FOMO has affected my family and I in ways that seem irreversible. | |
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< | -- By SalvadorRosas - 4 Dec 2019 [WORK IN PROGRESS] | >
> | -- By SalvadorRosas - 4 Dec 2019 | | | | |
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> | My own FOMO | | | Facebook did not invent FOMO. Even as a child, before the advent of social media, I can remember feeling jealous, anxious, and angry when I would miss out on certain things. I will never forget being devastated at 7 years old when I found out that my neighbors had traveled an hour from Salinas to San Jose for the Britney Spears concert. As an adult on social media, that same fear of missing out has become stronger. | |
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> | Social Media Habits | | | I have become a much more anxious person because of social media. It started out as a way to stay connected to my friends and family. Nowadays, it is the main reason I procrastinate. All of my accounts are “private” in the sense that people have to request to see my content. That really does not make much of a difference since it is the people closest to me that I care the most about. The fear of missing out on activities with my friends is heightened since I can constantly see what they are all up to on a daily basis. What this does is create a false sense of connection. It keeps me from actually reaching out to my friends and family and asking them what they have been up to because quite frankly I already know. Why would I spend 30 minutes on the phone with my aunt if I get real-time updates on her day through Snapchat?
Social media has changed the way I value time. I spend way more time on Instagram and Snapchat than I would like to admit or am even aware of. I will login to Instagram before going to bed only to realize after two hours of scrolling through my timeline that I have wasted valuable time I could have been using for much needed rest. As connected as I am to my social media accounts, I have become less connected from the technology that actually matters. | |
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< | I have become really bad about checking my e-mails. There have been several instances in the last few months where I have missed important e-mails and did not reply at all. When utilized productively, this is a benefit of e-mail communication that social media communication does not provide. When you open a “direct message” on Instagram or Snapchat (or iMessage depending on your settings), the user can see immediately when you “read” it. | >
> | I have become really bad about checking my e-mails. There have been several instances in the last few months where I have missed important e-mails and did not reply at all. When utilized productively, this is a benefit of e-mail communication that social media communication does not provide. When you open a “direct message” on Instagram or Snapchat (or iMessage depending on your settings), the user can see immediately when you “read” it. On the other hand, with e-mail (although read receipts do exist for e-mail as well) I can take my time crafting a response or not respond at all.
Admittedly, I am the most productive on my laptop when I am sitting through a lecture. I am able to catch up on e-mails and work for other class. However, I find that I end up even more behind since I am not able to fully focus on either task.
My family's FOMO
My Sisters' Habits
My sisters grew up during a time when there has always been social media. My youngest sister is 17 years old and has three different Instagram accounts, including two “finstas” or “fake” Instagram accounts. During Thanksgiving, I was surprised to find that my sister was really serious about filling out her college applications. We worked on them together while I was home. I saw a change in her. She seemed a bit less dependent on her phone and was clear about her priorities. She is also working with my Dad part time now, so she has started to experience what it is like to work and earn money. She has grown up in an environment where being a social media influencer seems like a promising career opportunity. However, I am relieved to know that my sisters are much more grounded in reality than I thought. My sisters are no longer on Facebook because “Facebook is for old people.”
Relatives
Facebook is the main form of communication that I have with most of my relatives outside of my immediate family. I am able to communicate with family members that live thousands of miles away and several that I have not seen in years. My family members live on Facebook. They post their every move, up to a dozen selfies, “inspirational” quotes, memes, etc. It is extremely overwhelming and cringeworthy. I wish there was an alternative way that we could all communicate with each other and share highlights of our day without it being so public. For example, we could draft e-mails to each other and just attach photographs to them. This would give all of us an opportunity to be thoughtful about what we would like to share with each family member. However, I fear that if I leave Facebook I will lose touch with many of my relatives who do not check their e-mails as regularly as they do their social media accounts. Not to mention I would never remember anyone’s birthday.
My Father
Right after my brother gave my Dad his old iPhone 4, one of my sisters made my dad a Facebook account. It was the worst thing that could have happened. He is obnoxious, commenting on every single post he sees on his feed. Quite frankly, it is embarrassing. His introduction into social media has translated into a full-blown mid-life crisis. He has reconnected with old friends from his adolescence, many of whom he perceives are living a better, simpler life than him back home in Mexico.
My Mother
My mother is the most unhappy about it. She has the smallest presence online. She does not have an iPhone. She does not have any social media accounts. She does not even have her own Gmail account. She mostly uses her work e-mail as no one else really needs to get in touch with her via e-mail. My mother is by far the most productive and mentally stable member of our family. From my perspective, she does not experience the Fear of Missing Out. These days, she does not seem to be afraid of much of anything. Freedom is of the utmost importance to her. Being off the grid gives her that freedom and the confidence to live her life without fear. The rest of my family members could really learn something from her. | | | [WORK IN PROGRESS] |
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