Me, Myself, and I: Self-Centeredness, FOMO, and Social Media Use

Public Significance Statement Conventional thinking would suggest that self-centred people use social media to "feed their egos." The present research, however, finds that self-centred individuals use social media to assuage their fear of missing out (FOMO) rather than to bolster their self-centric worldview. Results across three studies suggest self-centred individuals approach social media use from a point of weakness more so than from a point of strength. The present research investigates the relationship between self-centeredness and social media use and suggests that fear of missing out (FOMO) is a key mechanism underlying this relationship. Three studies were conducted to test these relationships, including a survey (Study 1, n = 199 U.S. adults) and two experiments, including one where self-centeredness is manipulated (Study 2, n = 241 U.S. adults) and another where FOMO is primed (Study 3, n = 102 U.S. adults). It appears that self-centred individuals use social media more to assuage their FOMO than to bolster their self-centric worldview. The study results provide consistent evidence which could refute prior theory and explanatory processes. Contrary to self-construal theory, which would suggest that individuals with an independent self-construal (more self-centred) would be less likely to experience FOMO, present results suggest otherwise. Additional study contributions include the use of two experimental designs to assess the direction of causal flow between self-centeredness, FOMO, and social media use.