Dealing With Unnecessary: The Mediation Role of Social Overload on Fear of Missing Out and Social Media Fatigue

• Published in: SAGE open Vol. 14; no. 3
• Main Authors: Xie, Xinzhou, Jin, Guangyao, Bai, Qiyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2024; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Social networks; social support; interdependent self-construal; FoMO; social overload; social media fatigue
• ISSN: 2158-2440; 2158-2440
• DOI: 10.1177/21582440241266358

Previous studies have shown that the fear of missing out (FoMO) is positively associated with social media fatigue. However, few studies have explored the mediating and moderating mechanisms behind this association. In this study, we analyzed whether social overload mediates the association between FoMO and social media fatigue and whether this mediation process is moderated by interdependent self-construal. Using social support theory and the theory of compensatory Internet use, we analyzed valid questionnaire responses from 3,000 Chinese social media users to empirically validate the proposed model. The results showed that FoMO was positively related to social media fatigue and that social overload mediated the association between FoMO and social media fatigue. In addition, the mediation effect was stronger for social media users with high levels of interdependent self-construal. These findings could increase understanding of users’ psychological states when using social media and reduce the negative effects of FoMO on social media users. Plain language summary Previous studies have shown that the fear of missing out (FoMO) is positively associated with social media fatigue. However, few studies have explored the mediating and moderating mechanisms behind this association. In this study, we analyzed whether social overload mediates the association between FoMO and social media fatigue and whether this mediation process is moderated by interdependent self-construal. Using social support theory and the theory of compensatory Internet use, we analyzed valid questionnaire responses from 3,000 Chinese social media users to empirically validate the proposed model. The results showed that FoMO was positively related to social media fatigue and that social overload mediated the association between FoMO and social media fatigue. In addition, the mediation effect was stronger for social media users with high levels of interdependent self-construal. These findings could increase understanding of users’ psychological states when using social media and reduce the negative effects of FoMO on social media users.Our study has several limitations. First, this was a cross-sectional study. Second, it would be better to measure FoMO by observing participants’ behavior. And we relied on self-report data, which may have introduced bias and reduced the accuracy of the findings.