What is FOGO? Thanks for asking!

You’ve probably already heard of FOMO - the Fear of Missing Out. Well here’s the opposite: the Fear of Going Out - or FOGO. With coronavirus lockdown measures easing in many countries, some people are still spending more time at home than usual, or not going outside at all. The cause? FOGO! Now this acronym is not actually new, even if it’s being used a lot more at the moment. It was coined way back in 2015 by Alexis Swerdloff writing in New York magazine. He wasn’t really writing about a literal fear of going out. The term was created more in comparison to FOMO and our feelings when seeing other people’s posts on social media.

So what’s the difference between the two then?

FOMO is the worry that others are having a rewarding experience, while we are left out. People often feel that the grass is greener on the other side. And we easily become envious when we see how great others’ lives appear to be. We want what they have, whether it be money, possessions, beauty or happiness. Seeing friends or colleagues on a great night out, and feeling excluded, is a common example of FOMO. On the other hand, those who have FOGO feel that the events people are posting about are more daunting than appealing. It’s also worth remembering that people are often very conscious of the image they’re conveying of themselves when posting on social media. Therefore they only share the highlights of their existence, creating a distorted version of reality.  

How has COVID-19 affected FOMO and FOGO? What can we do if we’re feeling FOGO or any other kind of anxiety right now? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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