Abstract

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) has emerged as an important psychological and social experience among young adults in the digital era. With the rapid expansion of smartphones and social media platforms, young individuals are increasingly exposed to the activities and experiences of others, which may intensify feelings of social comparison and the need to remain constantly connected. The present study aimed to examine urban–rural differences in Fear of Missing Out among young adults in Western Gujarat and to explore its possible social implications. A total sample of 120 young adults was selected using a purposive convenience sampling method. The sample included 60 participants from urban areas and 60 from rural areas. The Fear of Missing Out Scale developed by Przybylski et al. (2013) was used to measure FOMO levels among participants. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent samples t-test. The results indicated that rural participants (M = 23.42, SD = 6.56) reported slightly higher FOMO scores than urban participants (M = 22.27, SD = 6.84). However, the difference was not statistically significant, t(118) = 0.94, p = .349. The findings suggest that FOMO may be a shared experience among young adults regardless of their residential background, reflecting the growing influence of digital connectivity and social media engagement across different social contexts. The study highlights the importance of promoting balanced social media use and digital awareness to support healthier social interactions and psychological well-being among youth.