Smartphone Use, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and Social Connectedness among College Students

Abstract

The aim of the study was to understand smartphone use, FOMO, and social connectedness among college students. The objective of the research is to understand the relationship between smartphone use, social connectedness and FOMO among the college students in the age category of 18 -25 and to find out if there are any gender differences among the students in the above-mentioned constructs. The study was conducted on 265 college students in India, predominantly in Kerala and Karnataka. Smartphone use scale by Ms. Shankhabela Mukherjee, Dr. Subrata Dasgupta (2020), FOMO scale by Przybylski et al., (2013) and social connectedness scale revised by Lee et al., (2001) was used. The study found out that there exists significant positive relationship between smartphone use and FOMO among college students. The study also found out significant negative relationship between social connectedness and FOMO and social connectedness and smartphone use.