AN EXAMINATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO) ON SOCIAL MEDIA: AN ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the fear of missing out (FoMO) among university students according to various variables. This descriptive study was conducted with 379 students enrolled at a state university. The sample size was determined by power analysis, and data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the FoMO Scale. The study was initiated after obtaining approval from the ethics committee. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and analysis of variance. Fifty-one point seven percent of the participants were female, and 42.5% were first-year students. FoMO levels showed significant differences according to variables such as social media usage, academic year, department type, and social media and smartphone usage duration (p < 0.05). FoMO levels were higher among second-year students enrolled in vocational schools who used Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and among those who actively shared content on social media. In conclusion, students who spend a significant amount of time interacting in digital environments tend to exhibit higher levels of FoMO. Therefore, awareness campaigns are recommended to encourage students to use digital tools consciously and in a controlled manner. © 2025, Inonu University. All rights reserved.