Digital Well-Being and Social Identity: Conceptualising Fear of Missing Out in the Hyperconnected Era

Abstract

The modern world is defined by constant connectivity and the ever-increasing impact these digital spaces have on our identities and relationships. This hyperconnected world alongside opportunities for connection and belongingness has also created Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), a persistent anxiety that others are experiencing rewarding events without us. Prior researches have treated FoMO as a side effect of heavy social media use and excessive screen time, the current paper argues that FoMO is more deeply rooted in the social identity needs that drive human behaviour: the desire to belong, to feel valued by our groups, and to maintain a secure sense of self. Drawing on Social Identity theory and the nascent frameworks of digital health, we propose a conceptual model that reframes FoMO as an identity-centric phenomenon rather than a mere technological consequence. We believe that the pressures of comparison, the importance of identity, and the weak sense of self that teens have online make them more vulnerable to FoMO. By reframing FoMO through this lens, the paper provides novel theoretical insights and practical implications, advocating for a transition from simplistic “screen time” remedies to interventions that foster identity resilience and promote healthier patterns of digital belonging. Doing so opens pathways for future research across cultures and developmental stages, providing a stepping stone for improving mental health in a world where we are always connected to the internet.