The moderating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in the effect of trait anxiety on social media fatigue

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology has led to a daily increase in internet usage, fundamentally altering interpersonal communication methods. The proliferation of the internet has rendered social media platforms essential to the social and professional spheres of individuals. This has resulted in the development of new concepts including "trait anxiety," "social media fatigue," and FoMO. Social media influencers engaging in professional activities often report heightened anxiety and psychological fatigue stemming from the continuous demand for visibility and interaction within this digital landscape. This study aims to investigate the moderating role of FoMO in the relationship between trait anxiety and social media fatigue. The study sample comprises 402 influencers who engage actively on Instagram. Data were collected through a survey technique, and regression analyses were performed utilizing the bootstrap method with the Process Macro created by Hayes (2017). The findings indicate that influencers experience moderate levels of social media fatigue, while their trait anxiety and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) levels are comparatively low. A weak positive correlation exists between trait anxiety and social media fatigue. Additionally, both personal and social FoMO significantly moderated the relationship between trait anxiety and social media fatigue. When FoMO levels are moderate or high, the influence of trait anxiety on social media fatigue is amplified.