Kevin
January 28, 2022
Common Questions

Do you know the definition of FOMO? This article provides you with the information you need, including its definition, usage, origin, and more!

What Does FOMO stand for?

FOMO stands for “fear of missing out.” This is a phenomenon in which someone is afraid of missing out on fun events and happenings, so they over-commit themselves to everything.

FOMO has only gotten worse with the advent of social media, because you can see all of the fun things your friends are doing online on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram platforms. An addiction to social media sites and social networking sites can cause FOMO, which can lead to negativity, low self-esteem, and even depression. The behaviors leading to FOMO can cause someone to feel low life satisfaction, loneliness, low mood, and envy.

There is a lot at risk with social media use and social connections in people’s lives, especially young adults and adolescents. They are constantly comparing themselves to their peers and might feel a lack of autonomy when every move is being documented. This can cause fluctuations in mental health, a lack of autonomy, and a lack of sleep.

While there are positive experiences one can have on social media platforms, it can also cause a form of social anxiety due to social comparison. There is even a compulsive concern about how it affects cognitive ability.

What Else Can the Abbreviation FOMO Stand For?

While the slang term meaning FOMO is the most common, this acronym has a few other things it can stand for. Take a look at this list and see if you have ever heard FOMO stand for something aside from “fear of missing out.”

Fleet Operations and Maintenance Officer

Fort Moultrie (US National Park Service)]

Female Only/Male Only Fellowships

Former Mormon

Friends of Mulanje Orphans

What Is the Origin of FOMO?

The term FOMO comes from a story from a Harvard school newspaper about a variety of “ailments” that students were suffering from. This included FOMO. The story was written by Patrick McGinnis, a Harvard Business School student, where he also said it led to FOBO: the Fear of Better Options. These college students invented the term as a joke and had no idea that it would become such a hit on social media websites.

What Are Other Common Slang Terms?

Sometimes it seems like everything has an abbreviation! Slang terms and internet acronyms are extremely popular on social media. With this list, you can learn them all.

TTP: To the point

BC or B/C: Because

TTYL: Talk to you later

TBF: To be frank

MFW: My face when

SNMP: So not my problem

IMO: In my opinion

IDC: I don’t care

FTFY: Fixed that for you

JIC: Just in case

IIRC: If I recall correctly

DIKY: Do I know you?

TY: Thank you

AFAIK: As far as I know

TBA: To be announced

SRSLY: Seriously

PPL: People

THX: Thanks

AMAA: Ask me almost anything

BFF: Best friends forever

HBU: How about you?

OFC: Of course

BBL: Be back later

NP: No problem

NTH: Nice to have

YMMV: Your mileage may vary

CYT: See you tomorrow

CYA: See ya

RN: Right now

COB: Close of business

DIY: Do it yourself

TYT: Take your time

SMH: Shaking my head

BTW: By the way

LMK: Let me know

TBD: To be determined or to be decided

IRL: In real life

FTW: For the win

IMHO: In my humble/honest opinion

GR8: Great

Bestie: a best friend or term of endearment

KMN: Kill me know

SO: Significant other

FYI: For your information

IKR: I know, right

JK: Just kidding

W/O: Without

TFW: That feeling when

POV: Point of view

TL;DR: Too long, don’t/didn’t read

OMW: On my way

AMA: Ask me anything

OMG: Oh my god/gosh

TBC: To be continued

HIFW: How I feel when

Sus: Suspicious

DM: Direct message

ISTG: I swear to god

V: Very

OML: Oh my lord

F2F: Face to face

MRW: My reaction when

IFYP: I feel your pain

TIL: Today I learned

ICYMI: In case you missed it

IYKYK: If you know you know

ASAP: As soon as possible

ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing

IG: Instagram

BDAY: Birthday

IDK: I don’t know

ILY: I love you

MSG: Message

QAP: Quick as possible

Yeet: To throw something or used as an exclamation

OTOH: On the other hand

EOD: End of day

TIA: Thanks in advance

ATM: At the moment

DAE: Does any else

HMU: Hit me up

NGL: Not gonna lie

LOL: Laughing out loud

YOLO: You only live once

Overall, the abbreviation FOMO stands for fear of missing out. Similar to the concept of keeping up with the Joneses, this refers to people who always want to be doing the latest and greatest, attending every event. This can lead to negative emotions and a lack of motivation in teens when they are always looking for a better opportunity.

Sources: