In the past, people felt anxious if they couldn't attend a party, trip, or event with friends, fearing they might miss something important. This fear is known as FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out. However, among Generation Z, a new trend is emerging, called JOMO, or Joy of Missing Out. This means that instead of being upset about not participating in a plan or event, young people enjoy their free time.
Now many young people prefer to spend time alone rather than being everywhere at once.
JOMO stands for Joy of Missing Out. The essence is that if you cannot be part of a party, trip, or friends' plans, you do not feel sad. Instead, you take pleasure in relaxing at home, watching movies, or engaging in favorite activities. It also involves understanding one's own needs rather than comparing one's life to others'.
Generation Z has begun to realize that attending every party, meeting, or trip is not mandatory. Sometimes they decline plans simply because they don't feel like it. They prefer to refuse without regret, believing that valuing personal preferences is more important than trying to please others.
Social media has played a significant role in amplifying FOMO. By viewing friends' photos from parties, vacations, and luxurious lives on Instagram, some people started to think that something unimportant was happening in their own lives. Seeing others having fun, they wanted to be everywhere. But now some young people prefer to focus on their real lives instead of keeping up with others' lives on social media.
For Generation Z, time spent alone is no longer synonymous with boredom. Many young people enjoy reading books, watching favorite series, cooking, or simply relaxing at home. They believe that constantly being among people is not necessary. Sometimes time spent with oneself can bring a sense of satisfaction.
Due to constant work, studying, social media, and planning meetups with friends, youth sometimes lack time for themselves. In such cases, they prefer to skip some plans to conserve energy and reduce fatigue. For them, maintaining peace of mind and caring for their own needs is more important than being present everywhere.
The trend moving from FOMO to JOMO demonstrates that Generation Z seeks to escape the pressure of having to be part of everything. At the same time, this does not mean that young people dislike meeting friends or going out; they just want to decide when they need to go out and when to spend time alone. For them, skipping a plan can become an opportunity to dedicate time to themselves, rather than a loss.
