From Anxiety to Contentment: The Role of Multiple Mediations and Privacy Concerns in the Transition from the FOMO to the JOMO Among Dating App Users

This research explores the psychological transition that occurs in dating app users from the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) to the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) using the Stressor-Strain-Outcome (SSO) model. An online survey of 410 Tinder users reveals that the FOMO significantly influences self-disclosure and social media stalking behaviors, which leads to user fatigue and eventually the JOMO. This survey also finds that privacy concerns play a moderating role in this process. In particular, the results show that a heightened FOMO increases self-disclosure and social media stalking, which intensifies fatigue and fosters the JOMO. Privacy concerns significantly modulate the relationship between the FOMO, fatigue, and the JOMO, thus playing a critical role in user interactions with dating apps. These insights help elucidate the socio-psychological behaviors of dating app users and can inform app design to reduce fatigue and enhance user well-being.