Social media leading cause of FoMO - fear of missing out

Researchers have showed that a co-dependency on social media is a major cause of the condition foMO - fear of missing out.

Research from the University of Essex in Britain found that if basic social needs like autonomy, competence and relatedness are not met then a person is likelier to have increased levels of FoMO, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The problem defined as a fear of one's social standing or how one is perceived among peers, and a need to frequently know what's happening and what other people are doing.

The problem is most prevalent in people aged 16 to 35.

Dr Natasha Dwyer, a senior lecturer in digital media at Melbourne's Victoria University, said that today notifications are provided by social networking sites on what people are missing out.

She added that before the arrival of this kind of technology, many people were protected from info about what others were doing.