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Joy of missing out: Indonesians quit social media to stay happy
Many millennials are looking to declutter their online social network engagements as their internet usage has added to their stress levels.
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Many millennials are looking to declutter their online social network engagements as their internet usage has added to their stress levels. (Shutterstock/Dragon Images)
T
o quit or not to quit? This was the question that haunted Ranny Hartono, 25, as she faced a personal crisis with social media in 2017.
As an avid social media user who was finishing her undergraduate thesis, Ranny was struck with growing anxiety as her friend’s graduation pictures flooded her Instagram feed. An online romantic conflict further compelled her to step away from social media.
In the following months, Ranny ebbed back and forth in her attempts to withdraw from social media, which prompted her to cut down on her social engagements for as long as three months.
“[I kept coming back] because I needed to know what events were happening around me,” Ranny said. “I also felt the need to share my thoughts and what I was experiencing.”
Read also: Why social media is boosting your stress
Ranny’s quandary is likely typical of many millennials who suffer from a fear of missing out (FOMO).
FOMO is generally defined as a pervasive apprehension that one is not a part of a widely acknowledged trend or presumed rewarding experience.
