Centro Unv*rsitário Santo Agostinho
www*.Unifsanet.*om.br/revista
Rev. FSA, T*r*s**a, v. 23, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, *u*. 20*6
ISSN Impresso: *806-6356 I*SN Ele*rônico: 2317-2983
http://dx.doi.org/10.12819/20*6.23.6.4
G*neration Z and the FOMO Effect: Wh*n *igital Co*ne*tivit* *riggers Anxie**?
Geração Z e o *feito FOMO: Q*ando * C*nexão Dig*tal Gera Ansi**ade?
K*li Krumme*aue*
Bacha*e*a em Pub*icidade e Propagand* pe*a Universidade ***vale
E-mai*: kali@feevale.br
*imone Car*alho da Rosa
*outora em Proces*os * Manifestações *ulturais *el* Univers**ade Fee*al*
Professora *a **iversid*de Feevale
E-mail: *i*oneccr@fe*vale.br
Maur*cio Barth
Pós-dout*r em *omunicação p*la U*iv*rsid*de Feeval*
Pr*f*ssor na Un*ver*idade Feevale
*-mail: mauricio@feevale.br
Ender*ço: Kali Krummen*u*r
*d*to*-Chef*:
Dr.
T**ny
Kerley
de
Alen*a*
Univ*rsidade Fe*vale -
ERS **9, *755,
CEP
93525-075
Rodrig*es
- Nov* H*mburgo/RS, **a*il.
E*dereço: S*mone Carva**o da Rosa
*rtigo r*cebido em *8/05/2*26. Última
*ersão
Un*versi*ade Unive**idade Fee*ale - ERS 239, 275*,
rec*b*da em 18/05/2026. Aprov*d* em 19/05/*026.
CEP **525-07* - Novo Hamburgo/RS, Bras*l.
Ende**ço: Mauricio Barth
Avalia*o pelo si*tema Triple Review: Desk R*view a)
*n*versidad* Feevale -
E*S 23*,
2*55,
C*P
93525-075
pe*o Editor-Chefe; e b) Doub*e Blind Re*iew
- *o*o Hamb*rgo/RS, Brasil.
(avalia*ão cega por *oi* *valiad*res da *rea).
Re*i*ão: Gr*matical, Normativ* e de *ormatação
K. Kru*menauer, S. C. Rosa, M. *a**h
7*
ABSTRACT
*his article *nve*tigates, fro* the perspe*tive of specialists, how soci*l m*di* platforms
intensify the fee*ing of *OMO (*ear of Missing Out) among Ge*eration Z y*uth. *sing
a
qua*itative approach, the study em*loyed bib**ographic research and interv*e** wi*h four
pr**ess*on*l* *n the fiel*s of ps*chology, *ducational *s*cholog*, and sociology. The
findin*s *n*icate that, a*though not the p*i**r* c**se of FOMO, soc*al media act as vec*or*
that *timulat* this feel*ng, espe*ially among young people seeking soci** acceptance and *he
fulfillment of emotio*a* needs.
Ke*words: FOM* E*f*ct. Generation Z. Consumption.
R*SUMO
Est* a*tigo investiga como *s redes *o*iais intensificam o
sent*men*o de FOMO (Fe*r
o*
Missing Ou*) entre jove*s da Ger*ç*o Z. **m ab*r*a**m quali*ati*a, **ili*ou p*s*uisa
*ibli*gráfica e e*t**vistas *om qua*ro prof**s*onais das á*eas de psicologia, psicop*dagogia e
sociologia. Os resultado* indicam que, embora não seja* as causas principais do FOMO, as
re*es soc*ais atuam como vetore* que estim*lam *sse se*t*ment*, especialmente entre j**ens
*m busca de a*eitação soci*l e preenchimento de carências emocio**is.
Palavras-chave: *feito FOMO. Geração Z. *onsum*.
Rev. FSA, Teresina, v. *3, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026
www4.Un*fsanet.*om.b*/revista
Generation Z a*d the FO*O Effect: Wh*n Digital C*nnec*ivit* Trigg*rs Anxiety?
75
1 INTRODU*TION
In a short peri*d o* time, society *ransitioned from a m*del
of mass, a*alog
communic*tion dominate* by major media
outl**s to a digital
*nd
hyperconn*cted society
driven
b* t*chnol*g*. The most
recent data f*om the Jul* 2024b report publ*she*
b*
*ataReportal in *artne*ship with *e Are So*ial
and Meltwater reve*l t*a* Bra*il ranks
s*cond globally in *er*s of t*me spent on t*e i*tern*t by user* ag*d between 16 and ** years.
Wi** a daily averag* o* 9 hours and * min*te* *nline, of which 3 h*u*s and 33 minutes are
dedic*ted to socia* media platfo*ms, the co*ntry ranks *eh*nd o*ly Sou*h Africa.
This *ehavi*r reflects the era o* a dig*ta* soc*ety in which, *s Bauma* (2001) *a*
already dis*u*se*, s*cial *ehaviors
*ave becom* increa*ingly fra*mented and consumptio*-
oriented. W*thin thi* same context, Lipovets** (2005) raised *he issue *f how contemporary
society, hyperco*nected and *yperi**iv*dualistic, wou*d be exp***encin* the "era
o*
emptiness". Accord*ng to *i*ovetsk* (2*05), *his *ra wa* m*rked by exacerbated narcissism
*nd individual**m,
constructed th*ough mass co*sum*tion a** m*dia cultur*, characte*istics
that sti*l r*main in contemporary soci*ty. C*rrent d*ta from Data*eportal (20**b) appea* to
reinf*rce th*se analyses, demonstrating the *ntens**ication of d*gital *n***e*e*t and *o*tent
c*nsumption o* onl*ne **atforms. Th*s behavior is particularly evi*en* am*ng Generation Z,
born between *995 and 2010, *hich is characterize* b* co*tin*ous immers*on *n th* d**ital
environm*n*. As a digitally nativ* generation, Generat*on * a*sorbs a*d co*xists wit* * se* o*
influence* a*d "triggers" within *oci** ***ia plat*orms that, according to *urato (2023), have
led to conditions of an**ety, making ** a "*ick" gen*ration a*d p*ovo*i** the FO*O *ffect.
G**en this sce*ario, the present stud* aims to inv**ti*a*e an* analyze, from the
p*rspectiv* of sp*cialists, to **at extent so*ial media pl*tforms
are *esp*ns*b*e f*r
intensifying **e *eeling of FOMO *m**g their *sers *nd w*at its c*nseq**n*es are
on t h*
*ehavi** of Generation Z. In or*er to ac*ie*e the prop*sed objective, E*ploratory *nd
Descript*v* re*ear*h was ado*ted, w*th a Qualitat**e **proach, *sing Bibliograph*c and F*eld
*esearch as *echni*a* pr**edur*s, through individual *nte*views conduct*d *ith *our
p**fessional* from t** fiel** of psych*l*gy,
*s*chopedagogy, and soc*ology, with the
pu**o*e of o*ta*nin* pe*ceptions fr*m d*ff*rent a*eas ***arding t*e FOMO effe*t. Th* article
is structured into five sections: intr*duct*on (Section 1); theoretical fra*ework (Section 2), in
whi*h the following theme* are pres*nted: contemporar* so**ety & con*u*ption; *igital
*ociety, t*e F*M* e*fect & *ocial me*ia p*a*form*, and Generation Z; *ection 3 prese*ts th*
*ev. FS*, *e*esi** PI, v. 23, n. *, a*t. 4, p. 73-9*, jun. 2026 www4.Uni*sa*et.c*m.b*/revi*ta
*. Krummenauer, S. C. Rosa, M. Barth
76
me*hod**o*ical procedure*; a*alysis (Se**ion 4); and finally, *ection 5 pre*ents the final
c**sidera*io*s.
* THEO*ETICAL *RA*E*ORK
2.1 C*ntemporary Socie*y: A Soci**y Drive* *y Anx*ety and Con*u*ption
In *ontempora*y consume* so*iety, acqu*red good* tran*c*n* their ut*litarian f*ncti*n,
acting as carriers of cultur*l meanings t*at *re c*nst*ntly shif*ing an* that *erve to express
identity, social
be*o*ging, and hier*rchy (McCracken,
2*07). Fro* *his p*rspective,
Lipo*ets*y (2007) **ghlights that hyp*rmo*ern soc**ty is marked *y individu*lism, in which
t *e
"*elf" becomes *ent*a* *nd the pr*sent is overvalue* in
order to *rovi*e i*med*ate
pleasure. *or t** aut*or, hypermodern*ty is ch*ract*rized
*y **e excess of values created
during modernit* itself, su*h as cons*mpti*n, which ha* b*com* hypercon*umptio*.
Fo* Cast**ls (2*09), globaliz*tion *nd **pital*s* reshaped *ot* the means of
communication and society\s cons**p*ion habit*, l*adin* individuals to con*ume
products
*nd in*o*mat**n *n a new way. Globa**za*ion enabl** i*st*n*aneous i*ter*o*nec*ion o*
a
worldw*de sca*e, but it also fostered *ultural stand*rdizati*n and increas*d social i*equalit*es.
Acco**ing to the same a*tho*, the way inf*rmation is prese*ted and cons*med ha* *lso been
impacted
by social media platforms, with news c**nnel* and *nte*tainment platforms
competi*g for u*ers\ attention and interest, who incr*asi*gl* see* fas* and easi*y
understandabl* *onte**.
*he chan*es mentioned ** Ca*tells (2009) a*e not limite* solely to infor*ation
consumpt*on, since th*y als* affect all soc*al sphere* and
*nterperson*l relation*hips. In this
era *hat valu*s sp*ed, Bauman (2010) highl*ghts th*t,
f** ma*y
young *eo*le, investing
*n
ph*sical connections ** considered a waste o* ti*e. Therefore, in order to s*ve tim* and avoi*
em*tional exhaus*io*, many of these young individuals *refer *o co*n*ct
th**ugh vi*t*al
*nvironment*, *here less effort is re*ui*ed, but which, accordin* t* Bauman (2010), results i*
* l*s* of depth i* *elati*nships.
Thus, it *ec*mes evid*nt that thi* acce*erated pace has profoundly affected social
relations*ip*, cont*ibuti*g *o a liqui* so*iety that, accordi*g to Bau**n (2001), is
charact*r*zed by
*ragile, super*icial, and u*stabl* bonds am*ng individuals. Fo* the *u*ho*,
the result, a*i* an era of *ncertainties with th* digital world increasi*gl* roo*ed *n everyday
*ife, is the *merg*nce of new fears and in*ecu*ities.
Rev. FSA, Teres*na, *. 23, n. 6, art. 4, *. 73-*8, jun. 2026 www4.Unifsanet.c*m.br/re*ista
Generation Z and the FOMO Effe*t: When Digital *o*ne*tivity Triggers *nx*ety?
77
2.1.1 * So*iety Beyond Di*ital
**u**n (2008), in his book Liquid Fea*, emphasizes tha* human relationships, once
perc*iv*d as a sou*ce of security and stability thr*ugh sol*d in*tituti**s, ha*e
become
*
c*ntinuo*s s*urc*
of anxiety, * phenom*n*n e*en m*re intensely obs*rvable
in digit*l
society. In an interview w*t* the *ewspap*r El *aís
i* January
*016, Baum*n *tated
that
social media platfor*s g*n*rat* an illusion of p*oximity, as we*l a* a *al*e se*se o*
*on*rol,
furth*r re*nforcing isolatio* and individualization ** contempo*ary society, an *spe** *lso
poin*ed *ut by Lipovetsky (20*5). In thi* interview, *aum*n (20*6, n.*.) states *hat "T*e
difference betw*en a community and a n*twork i* that y*u belong to the commun*ty, but the
network
belongs to *ou." This su*gests that social *latforms pro*ide *uto*omy
*ver
connec**ons, such
as add*ng,
deleting, and blockin*, making soc**l sk*lls such *s
conflict
*es*lution *nd deal*ng with disappointm*nt increasingl* unnec*s**ry.
*onv*rgin* *ith Bauman\s pers*ect**e, Haidt (2024) argues that only within
c*mmunities, where re*ationships *re embodie* and synchron*u*, are human *eing* *apabl*
o* devel*ping such skills, which a*e *f*** *ost i* virtual communica*ion whe*e i* is impossible
to id*ntif* t*ne of voice or facial expr*ss*ons that *ac**ita*e the understanding of o*hers\
*n*entions and feelings. *he aut*or al*o highlight* t*at ** indi*idu*l can only
become
a
functional adult wh*n lea*ning to deal w*th
fai*ures and disap**in*ments during t*e most
importan* stage of brain development, *rom c**ldhood to adolescence (Haidt, *0*4).
Fo* Bauma* (2016), platforms provide * controll*ble and predictabl* *nvironmen* in
which individuals become alienat*d within their own bubbles *nd, since they are not
con*ronted with divergent *iews, f*il to develop *o*e***ce a*d cr*tical th*nking regarding
opposing opinions. While Bauman (*01*) criticizes isolation *n t*e digital environment, other
**thors, s***
*s *astel*s, *old * more optimis**c
perspec*ive reg*rding i*te*net use. In an
in*erview with Veja magazi*e, Cast*ll* (2024) considers t*at the in*e*net en*ances sociabil*ty
and generates greater life satisf*ctio* amon* peopl* in g*neral. The au*hor rela*es *recarious
living co*ditions to negative feel*ngs **ch as sadnes* and *nxie*y, b*t *o*s no* a*sociate thes*
feelings wit* *ntern*t us*.
*irtual depe*dency, whi*h emerges as a co*sequen*e of fr*gile relationships, aligns
*i** Turkle\s (1*99) dis*ussion o* the b*u*daries between the real and t*e v***ual. The author
argue* that it is mistaken t* c*nsider "r*al life" *nd "vir*u** li*e" as sepa*ate wor*ds because
of*line *** online *ealities are deepl* intertw*ned and equally *mport*n*. *owever, similarl*
Rev. FS*, T*resina PI, v. 23, n. 6, *rt. 4, p. 73-*8, jun. 2026 *ww4.Unifsanet.com.*r/revista
K. Krummenauer, S. C. R*sa, M. Barth
78
to Bauman (2016), T*rkle (1999) also q*estion* whethe* vir*ual environme*ts, su*h *s social
*edia platforms, can tr*l* be cons*dere* co*munities due to t*e lack of depth in re*ation*hips
and *he *bsence of permanence, c*aracter*stic* s*e consid*rs ess*nti*l for a community. In
lin* w*th *his persp*ctiv*, Haidt (*024, p. 228)
argues that
"it is *er* difficult t* b*ild a
*urpose*ul *ife *lone, lost among cou*tless disembodie* social networ*s. [...] human bodies
ne*d to be rooted i* h*man communitie*."
As a result o* thi* interacti*n wit* *he digital environment, i* is possibl* to obs**ve a
p*enomenon, whic* is the focus of *his study, that has been gaining in*reasing releva*ce and
media attention as excessive screen us* *as b**ome
commonplace in mos* pe**le\s d*ily
lives: FOMO.
2.1.2 What Is the FOMO Effect
Fear of Missing Out, popular*y k*o*n si*ply by the acro*y* FOMO, refe*s, in *ree
translation, to the "fear of bei*g left out" or the "fear of missin* somet*i*g" (*ossini, 202*;
Tu*ato, 2023). More objec*ively, this p**chologi*a* phenomeno* can b* *nderstood as: "the
app*e*ension that others might *e ha*ing rewarding experience* from *hich on* is abse*t,
and the persistent desire to stay connected with what others in one\s *ocial network are d*ing"
(Elh*i e* al., 202*, p. *). *s a *esu*t, this effect may lead individual* into * constant s*ate *f
a*x*ety and distress, which in man* cas*s *ri*ger o* *gg*avate other c*morb**ities, a* pointed
*ut *y Tura*o (2023). Feelings such as *n** are also common i*
FOM*, stemming f*om
frequent comparisons *it* re*lities displayed on so*ial media *latforms, o*ten manipulated to
appear diff*rent *rom wh*t th*y truly are, ge**rating,
a*cor*ing
to the auth*r, a sense of
infe*iority in rel*tion to *thers an* *otential*y leading
to impulsi*e beh*vi*r*,
incl*di*g
product purchas*s influ**ced b* others.
**e acronym FOMO w*s c*ine* an* popu*ari*ed i* 2004 by a b*sin*ss student nam*d
Pa*rick J. McGinni* wh*n publishing
an *pinion ar*icle entitle* S*cial Theory at *BS:
McGinnis\ Two FOs *or The *arbus, Harvard\s *tudent newspaper (Ro**ini, 202*). The t**ic
subsequ*ntly *eca*e cent*al to sever*l st*die*, such as the work of Pr*y*yls*i et **. (2013),
*on*ide*ed the firs* the*retic** and em*irical stud* based *n
obs*r**tions and practi***
appl*cation re**rding this *henomenon.
Althoug* FOMO g*in*d *ven gre*t** prominen*e because *f social me*ia platforms,
which stimulat*d this *eeling on * *arger *ca*e, the fear of social *xclu*ion o* rejection is
*
ch*racteristic of hu*an evolution and d** not emerge with the *ise of th* inter*et
Rev. FSA, *eresina, v. 23, n. 6, a*t. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 202* *ww4.Unifsanet.*om.br/*e**sta
*e*e**tio* Z an* **e FOMO Effect: Whe* Digital Connectivity T**ggers Anxiety?
7*
(Eisenberger, *011; Rossi*i, 2022). A*cording to E*senberger (2011), in a neuro*cience study
**alyzing the brain\s res*onse to social rejection, *he p**n of soc*al exclusion is proc*ssed
similarly to physi*al pain, activat*ng t*e same b*ain regions res*o**ible for pro*essing these
emotion*. It can be observed that, with the emergence of soci*l *edia platforms, *here has
been **a*sf*rmat**n a
in what was formerl* un*erstood and defined as FOM*. For I*dia
(2024), wha* once me*n* the fear
of missing real-world *xp*riences has, f*r
y*u*ger
gener*tions, become **e fear ** m*ssing events *ccurring within
social m*d*a pl*tform*
*hemselves. However,
the author e*pha*izes t*at wh*le suf**r*ng from virtual FOMO,
individuals in fa*e-*o-face lif* have b*g*n to deal *i*h JOMO (Joy *f Missing Ou*), which
can *e transla*ed as the "pleasure of m*ssi** **t," though *n this contex* ass*ci*ted with
avoidance. Th*s, a
lar** portion of young people
from *his generation attempt t* *scape
p*ssible **j*c*ion by refusi*g everyt*ing fr*m *oc*a* events t* *hone calls and, c*ns*quently,
*ecome increasingly isolate* due *o soci*l *nx*ety, which has amo*g *ts causes t*e high
digita**zation *f everyd** *ife and the la*k ** hum** int*ractions (India, 2*24).
*.1.2.1 The Powe* of Social Medi* Platforms in Generating t** FOMO Ef*e*t
So*ia* media platforms created a fa*orable environment for FOMO to m*n*fest itse*f,
making it * highly discus*ed contempo**ry issue in soci*ty. With a worldwi*e u*er gr*wth of
5.8% (282 million users) ove* o*e year, between July 2023 and July 2024, t*ese pl*tforms are
est*m**ed to gather ap*ro*imate**
5.*7 billion *eople, me*ning that 6*.7% of the **oba*
p*pulation and *4.9% o* in*ividuals who acces*
*he internet are
pr*sent on these pla*forms
(DataRe*ortal,
2*24*). In January
2*24, Br*zil had 144 milli*n s*cial media users,
representi*g 66.3% of *he Brazilian population, a growth of 1.4% (2 milli*n u*er*) compared
to the same period in 2023 (DataRep*rtal, 2024a).
* survey **nducted in April 2024 by Mo*il* Time in partne*s*ip wi*h O*inion Box,
*nvolvi*g 2,033 Brazil*a*s aged 16 y**rs or *lder who ow* smartphon*s,
*ighli*hte* the
predominanc* of certain *pplication* wit*in the national scenario. Among the six ap*lic*tions
mentioned, respondents identified In*tagram as *h* most ins*a*led plat*orm, present o* 90% of
mobil* *hones, fo*l*wed b* Facebook (79%) a*d TikTok (40%). Kw*i, a short-*ideo
application similar t* TikTok, also prove* rel*va*t, with 29% installati*n rates, *an*in* fi*th.
These data highlight beha*i*ra* changes *n new information
cons*mpt*on h*b*ts, directed
t*wa*d short a*d visua**y attrac*i*e entertain*ent content with nume**us scene tra*sitions.
Accor*ing to *uen* (2024), the constant impleme*t*tion o* new *eatures on the*e pl*tforms,
Rev. FS*, Teres**a PI, *. 2*, *. *, art. 4, *. 73-9*, j*n. 202* www4.Unifsanet.co*.br/rev*sta
K. Krummenauer, S. C. Rosa, M. Barth
80
such as th* poss*bi*ity of speeding *p video* or runn*ng m*lt*ple tabs simultaneo*sly, al*o
contributes to "capturing" users\ atten*ion even more, causing them to sp*nd in**easing
amounts of time connect*d.
Another reason why the adoption
of these platform* is so signific*nt is a*gor*thmi*
*ur*tio*. *n Parise*\s words (20*2, p. 14), these filters "constantly create and refine a theory
*f who we are an* *hat w* will do or desi*e next." Thus, platforms possess the *ower t*
*educe and r*tain *sers t**ough * manipulated and pe*sonalized re*lity tailored to each
individ***. Furthermor*, *ccording to the author, alg*r*thms a*e beginn*ng *o dictate and
manage not *nly advertising, but also people\s *ays of liv*ng. Ev** so, the author co*siders
algorithms a necessary r*source, sin*e without such filt*ring, navigatin* th* *nternet would *e
practically unfeas*ble co*side*ing th* immense quantity of ava*l*ble data and informat*on.
In 2017, a British study cons*de*ed Instagra* the mos*
harmful social netw*rk,
**rectly im*ac*ing young p*ople\s
*ental
health (RSPH, 2017). How*v*r, i* is imp*rt*nt to
note th*t at that time TikT** had *o* yet achiev*d th* popularity *t currently holds. Acc*rdi*g
to GWI (2023), T*kTok w*s *he social media platf*rm t*at experienced the fastest gr*wth
a*on* all gene*ations sinc* their 2021 sur*ey. *n th* study cond*ct*d *y Opi*ion Box
(2024), focused on TikTo*, am*ng t*e 1,00* B*azilia* respondent* who were a*ready us*r*,
more than h**f considered T*kTok addictive, rec*gnizing th*t ex**ssive use may be harmful
t* mental h**lth. The re*e*rc* also re*e*led *hat
36% of respon*ents access TikTok several
times a day, *spe*ially at night, while 11% ***ort*d nev*r closing the ap*l*ca*ion, using it as a
form of distraction, entertai*m*nt, and discovery of new thin*s (Opinion Bo*, 2024).
*he a*nual white paper Consume* of the *utur* 2024, pub*ished *y WGSN (2024, *.
5), hi**ligh*s that "p*o*le *r*und th* worl* said *t used to be common to wa**h vide*s
*etween 10 and
*0 minute* long, but now
*hey lose in*erest within minutes,"
and i*entifi*s
Ti*Tok as on* of the *ai* contribu*ors to this lack *f interest and attent*on sp*n. Given *he
presented
da*a, the
dependency these pl*tforms **ve ge*era*ed among users,
es**cially
TikTok, becomes evident.
*rom th* p*rspective of Burhan and **radzadeh (202*), this addiction occurs because
each new int*raction or **tification pe*ce**ed by the human br*in as a form of r*w*rd, *s
e**ou*agin* ind*vid*als to c*nsta**ly repeat *e*av*ors that gener*te *ati*faction. This *rocess
stimulates an inc*ease in
dopa*ine co*centration, *o*sidere* one of the most
imp*r*ant
neurotransmitt*r*
associ*ted with t*e reward s*stem (**rha*; Mo*adz*d**, 2020; Lembke,
2022). A* dopamine toleran*e
develops (ne*roadap*ation), its
e**ectiveness in providing
p*easu*able *ensat*ons t*nds to diminish, mak*n* even
greater **imulation *ec*ssary
to
Rev. F*A, Te*e*ina, *. *3, n. 6, ar*. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026
www4.Unifsanet.c*m.br/revista
G*nerat*o* Z *nd the FOMO Effe*t: Wh** Di*ital Connectivity Triggers Anx*ety?
81
achieve th* same
effect (Lem**e, 2022). *hus, users
en* up
*ntering a vici*us cy*le driv*n
by the anxiety o* re*eiving new not*fica**ons *nd conte*t on their *cree**, as p*inted out by
Bue*o (2024). Skinner (**11) also exp*ains this repetitive behavio* in his *he*ry of *perant
Con*iti*ning, which r*fers to acti*ns whose repetiti*n depend* direc*ly ** the consequence*
th** prod*ce, occurring i* *he following *equence: behavior, con*equen*e, and eff*ct. In this
ca*e, the oper*nt act of c*ecking soci*l med*a p*atfo*ms firs* inv**ves * s*ar*h for imme*iat*
gratificati*n and then, after being rewarded with a new *otif*cation, for example, comes
a
fee*ing ** *omentary sat*sfaction, increasing the likelihood of repeating the actio*. According
t* psyc*olog*, t*is *rocess is
call*d positive *einfo**ement, *n whic* the f*equency of the
behavior te*ds to *ncrease **e to the pleasant stim*lus r*ceived (Ski*ne*, 2011).
In this context, i* is important *o hi*hlig*t the significant *a*ticipation of Genera*ion Z
*hich, accord*ng to data fro* *he Brazilian Institute
of **ogr*phy and Sta*ist*cs (IBGE)
(2*24) regardi*g population p*o*ection* fo* the year 2024, c*rre*po*d* to *pproximat*ly 50
mill*on *oun* peopl* in *h*
country. This information
brings to l*gh*
* he i * s *e
discussed in
th*s study, wh*ch aims *o analyze the
effects of social media platfo*ms based on the
char*cteristics and be*aviors of G*n*rat*o* Z in contempora** soc*et*.
2.2 G*neration Z\s I*mer*ion in t** Digita* *o*ld
Named Generation Z, individuals born between appr**imately 19*5 and
*010,
cur*ently aged bet*een 15 and *0 y*ars,
**e consid*red the
f**st generation to
be born and
r*ised in a hypercon*ected world dominat*d by *e*hnology (*asarotto, 2020), being describe*
*y *rensk* (2001) ** digital n*tive*. According to Ha*** (20*4), Gener*ti*n Z was *he
generation *ost a**ected by *hat the author *all* *he G*e*t Re*iring of Childhood, a theory
devel*ped *y h*m a*d consi**r**, i* his perception, t*e only theory cap*b** *f *x*lainin* the
inc*eases in mental dis*rders such as
*nx*ety, especially among females. Ov*r the years,
graduall*, with the rise of *a*en*al overprote*tion, free
play gav* way to a phon*-based
*hildhood, **th a more visib*e *nd in*ens*
transform**i*n beginning *n the
early *010*,
m*in*y due to th* *opular*zation o* sm*rtphones, whi*h ultima*ely *sta*lished t*emselves as
the new stand*rd of child*ood (Haidt, 202*).
In *wen\s st*dy (2018, p. 15) on G*nerat*on Z, Te*s, a *0-y*ar-old *rom Detr**t,
Michig*n, describes *ocial media platforms a* an *nvironm*nt whe*e "it\s a*l ab*ut being
p*pul*r, pretty, an* fak*." She c*m*ent* t**t i* is a m*x**re o* admirati** an* frustration for
not *e*ng able t* *eplic*te the **sts of other girls sh* sees on Ins*agram.
Rev. F*A, Teresina PI, v. 2*, n. 6, a**. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026 www4.Unifsanet.com.b*/re**sta
K. Krummenau*r, S. C. Ro*a, M. Barth
*2
When discu*sing influences on this g**e*ation, it i* pertinent
to *ddress the rol* of
dig*tal influencers, sin*e Gener*t*on Z *s the generation that fo*low* them *he most o* soci*l
me*ia
pl*tforms (DataRepo*tal,
2024b). From *he pe*spective of H*n*ich *nd Gil-White
(2*01), *hrough prestig* bias, u**r* *eek not only to copy *thers, but also to i*enti*y, imi*ate,
and approach the in*ivid*al who stands out the mo*t and appears suc*e*sful in wha* the* do,
per*eiv*ng them a* role mode*s solely because
o* their status. For many me*bers *f
t hi s
generatio*, influencers occupy * position of *u*hority, *ith t*e capaci*y to ex*rt great
infl*ence ov*r their f*llowers, even surp*ssin* tradi*ional media outl*ts (Covello, 202*). *n a
survey conduct*d by GWI in 2023 involvi*g 225,*44 p*rticipants from four generations ("Z,"
"Y," "X," and Baby Boomers), was found t*at Gene*ation Z i* t*e generation it
that mos*
tr*sts dig*tal inf*uence*s *nd is th* *ost likely to *urchase
p*o*ucts rec*mmended by the*,
considering these rec**me*da*ions more rele**nt than tradit*onal ad*ert*sing. An*ther
characteristic of G*ner*tion *, a*cord*n* to *rensky (2001), is m*tivation based on rapid
g**ti*ication. A* early *s 20*1, Prensky (2001) *lread*
observ*d ho* this *ultitaskin*
ge*eration, a*cu*tomed
to *ast info*matio* con*umption, pri*rit*zes v*s*al elements over
textual conte*t.
According to Bauman (*010), *his tendency t*ward immediate pleasures *s r*flected in
the incess*nt pursuit
of exper*ences, even when
t h* y
*re financial*y u*sustainable. *hu*,
driven
by
the *e*ir* to e*p**ie*ce thin*s the* do not want to miss out on (FOMO), m*ny
*dults fro* Ge*eration Z are becom*** i**ebte* (C*edit Ka*ma, *023). Th* stud* published
by **ed*t K**ma (*023), which int*rvie*ed *,009 ad*lts, found that 38% of G*neration *
respondents, e*en without financ*al means, *re i*flu*nced to travel after seeing other peop*e\s
vacations on social media pla*form*, w*ile 46% of the*e young *ndivi*uals *tated that **ey are
willing to incu* debt in order t* take the*e trips.
This behavi*r is discussed by Bauman (2010, *.
12), who hi*h*i*hts the
tra*sfo*mati*n marked by t*e emergen*e *f credit
cards, whi*h redefined t*e rela*ionship
betwee* indiv*du*l*, de*ire, **d **nsumption, wher*
"[...] you are free to m*nage yo*r
satisf*c**on, to obtain things when y*u desire them, not when
yo* earn e*ou*h to obtain
them." However, the author argues that acquiring *o*ds throug* cre*it i* order *o *at*sfy
imm*diate desires and long-t*rm a*pira**ons may com*romi*e th* abi*ity to meet fut*re needs,
in additio* t* generating a cycle of indeb*edness, post*onement *f **als, an* accu*ulation of
problem* (Baum**, 2010). It i* **ident that a*tho*gh the feeli*g of FOMO is not rest*icted to
Generation Z,
thi* effect becomes mor*
a*parent within this gener*tion. Having
bee* born
*mme*sed in a *igital world, so*ial media platforms play a* *m*o*t*nt role in ho* this
***. FSA, T*resina, v. *3, n. 6, art. *, p. 73-98, *un. 20*6 www*.U*ifs*net.*om.br/revista
Generation Z and the F**O Effect: When Digital Con**ctivity Triggers Anxiety?
83
generation relates, acts, thin*s, *eel*, and consumes not only materia* goods, but al*o con*ent
an* in**rmatio*. Followi*g th* the*retical co*te*tualization o* *he guiding them*s of this
study, the methodologic*l procedu*es are presented in the *ext s*c***n.
3 METHODOLOGICAL *ROCEDUR*S
This ar*icle
is ch*ra*terized *s an E*ploratory and D*scriptive study (Gil, 200*),
aimin* to gene*at* kn*wledg* rega*ding t*e FOMO (Fear of Mis*ing Out) eff*c* by relating it
to th* *mpact of social media platforms in in**nsi*ying this f*el**g among Gener*tion Z.
T** technical procedures ado*t** were Bibl*ographic *esearch an*
F*eld Research.
Initially, through Bibli*graphic Research, with th* purp*se of dee***ing t*e understanding of
the topic* addre*sed, previously published material* such as
books, scienti*ic artic**s,
dissertations, the*es, newspap*r a*ticles, and online publications discu*s**g the the*es unde*
s**dy, n*mely Gener*tion *, the FOMO effect, and social me*ia platf*rm*, *er* revie*ed.
Since this is a contempora*y topic, ext**si*e consul*ation of digit*l sour*es, *uch as web*i*es
and rep*r*s *ontaining *ore recent and updated **for*ation
on the subject, was *ho*en. In
this w**, i* was **s*ible *o de*elop t*e *heoretical framework *hrough a di*log*e *mong the
i*eas o* different a*thors and
*arious cont*nt *ources (Prodanov;
Freitas, 20*3).
Subseq**ntly, in order t* o*tain information rega*ding the
**fferent perspe*tives of
professionals from disti*ct fields *oncer**ng
the su*jects i*vest*g**ed in this
articl*, Fiel*
Res*arc* was conduct*d *i*h four
professiona*s link** t*
the areas of psychology (02),
psychopedagogy (01), and so*iology
(01),
a*l of *hom work with Ge*e*ati** Z, t*r*ugh
qu*litative interviews (Prod*nov; Freitas, 2013) conducted
usi*g a sem*-structur*d **r*pt
(*a*a*os; Marconi, 2003).
Thus,
dat* *oll*ction *as carri*d out throu*h four i*tervi*ws,
us i ng a non-
p*obabilistic accessibil*ty sampl* (Proda*ov; Freitas, 2013), co*ducted indiv*duall* a*d
onli*e th***gh the Google M*et platform. *he intervi*ws took place in 2025 *n the fol*owing
da*es:
January 6 and
23, *ith the psychologist an* the *sychopedago*ue, re*pectivel*, an*
Fe*ru*ry 14 and 24, with the psychol*gist an* the sociol*gist, res*ectively,
ea*h lasting
ap*roximately
50 minutes. *or the selectio* of in*erviewees, *reference wa* given *o
pro*essionals **th exp*rience and *xpertis* in **e field, *rioriti*ing those *ho are also facu**y
members at Univers**ade Feevale, most of whom were rec*mmen*ed by th* article *dvisor,
*hu* *acili*ating contac*. T*e p*yc**pedagogue was recomm*nd*d by one o* the inte*viewees,
w*ile the so*iologist was contacted because he had pre*iously b**n the
researcher\s
*ev. *SA, Teresin* PI, v. 23, n. 6, *rt. 4, p. 73-*8, jun. *026 www4.Unifsa*et.c**.br/re*ist*
K. K*umme**uer, S. C. Rosa, M. Barth
84
p**fessor. Data interpret*tion was c*nduc**d usi*g conte** ana*ysis, according to
t he
meth**ology proposed b* Bar*in (2*16),
b*sed on the categorizations used in t*e semi-
stru**ured interv*ew scr**t. T*e a***ysis devel*pme*t process consiste* o* a pre-analysis
phase, **llo*ed by **teria* explor*t*on and, finally, the treatmen* *nd i*terpretation of results
(Bardin, 20**).
4 A*AL*SIS
Th* perc*p*io** obtained *hr*ugh *he int*rv*ews, combi*e* with t*e the*retical
frame**rk, suppor*ed the anal*sis in orde* to achieve th* object*ve of this arti*le. *he
a*alysis is structured i*to three sub**ctions corres***ding to the categor*es deriv*d from the
inte**iew scrip*: c*n*e*porary *o*iety, co*s*mptio*, soci*l media platforms, *OMO, **d
Gene*ation Z.
4.1 Pro*ile of the Interviewees
In ord*r to obtain a comprehens*ve *nd impartial perspe*tive, pro**ssio**ls working in
*ifferent *iel*s were i*terviewed, wh*se p*ofil** a*e highli*hte* in Ta*le 1.
Table 1 - Pro*ile of the Interviewed Profe*sio*als
I*tervie*ee
Ar e a o f Exper*ise
Ye a r s * f Expe*ience in th* Field
Curr**t P*o*essi*nal Role
C*
P*ych*logy
*6 years
B*s*ness c*nsu*tant focused on the dev*lopment *f people managemen*, clinical *s*chologist worki** wit* chi*dren and yo*ng p*ople (G*neration Z), profe*sor and coordinator of the CIP a* Universidade Fee*ale.
ES
Sociology, Anthropology, and Political Sci*nce
3* years
R*searcher, wri*er, *nd professor worki*g with *eneration Z students a* *nive*sidade Feevale.
*M
Psychopedag*g*
16 year*
Clinical and inst*tut*onal psychopedag*gue foc*sed on assisting children and youn* people (Gener***on Z).
LG
Psy*hol*gy
6 years
Cl*nical psychologist *o**ing wit* child**n and you*g people (G*nera**on Z) *nd profes*or ** Universidade Feeval*.
Sour*e: Prepared by the auth*rs (2025).
B*sed on t*e pr*file of the intervie**es, *he interviews proceeded with the aim of
understanding differen* perspectives *egarding the scenario *f contempo*ary society and *he
F*MO *ffect, espec*ally present among Generation Z.
Rev. FSA, Teresi*a, v. 23, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026 www4.Uni**anet.com.br/rev**ta
G**er*tion Z a*d the FOMO Effect: *he* Digi**l C*nnectivit* Trigger* *nxie*y?
85
*.2 *o*tem*or*ry Soc*et* & C*nsume* Behavior
Bauman (2001) and Lipovet*ky (2005) poin* out tha* contempora*y society *s marked
by fluidity and indi*id*alism and, acco*din* to t*e *ut**rs, the di*it*l era inte*sifies *his
flui*ity, where rel*tionshi*s and inf*r*ation become *ncreasingly ep*emera*. *onsiderin*
these a*proaches, the study initia*l* s*ught to *nvestiga*e opinions regardi** th* relat*on*h*p
between contem*or*ry soc**ty an* co*sumpti*n. On this top*c, al* *our interviewees *resented
sim*lar
p*rsp**tives, consi*ering so*i*ty *o be main*y m*r*ed by co*sumeris*, immedi*cy,
a*xiety, a*d social isolation. Interviewee C* com*ents that s*ciet* "li*e* in very *n*io*s,
agi*ated, a*d immediate times. There is an overexposure to an excess of in*o*matio* that, at
t*mes, people d* not know *ow to deal with, and
this amplif**s this a*xious w*y of living."
*** h*ghligh*s that, inter*ation*lly, Brazil
is t*e country *ith the highest
preva*ence of
an*i*ty cases, which may
have a
p*s s i bl e
rel*tion*hip with the data from the *ataR*por*al
*eport (2024b), which positions Brazil as sec*nd in the
**ob*l ranking for
the *ighes*
daily
time *pent
o*l*ne. Such data relate *he ex*ess of in*orma*ion*l stimuli in th*
*igi*al
*nvi*onmen* as on* of *he e*emen*s intensifying anxie**, making the Brazilian *opula*ion t*e
most anxi**s in the w*rld.
*r** a mor* sociolog*c*l **rspec*ive, i**erv*ewe* ES expands the
di*cussion
b*
associ*t*ng thes* fac*s with Ba*m*n\s (2001) theo** of liquid *o*er*ity, *entioning that
everything h*s *ec*me *ransi*ory, such *s th* loss of durabili*y of furn*ture, job*, marriages,
an* huma* re*ationships
them*elves. It is furthe* *bse*ved that
the transition fro* a s**id
so*iety, in which there were g*ara**ees, certainties, a*d security regar*ing these aspe*ts, to a
liqu*d post*odern**y, where ev*rything is temp*rar*, resulted *n th* *rag**ity of human bonds
*nd gene*ate* collect*ve anx*e*y relat** **
uncertaintie* about th* futu*e, *ince no**ing is
*ermanen* anymore.
Regarding the transition from an *nalog t* a di*it** s*ciety, interviewee* w*re asked
about the advantages and disadvantages
t he y
perceived in thi* tran*i*i*n. They r**o*nized
bo*h t*e p*s*t*ve aspects *f this technological change, especially quick ac*ess to i*f*rmation,
communication, *nd new resour*es, a** t*e negative *spe*ts caused by t** exce*s *nd misuse
of tech**l*g*es an* information. The i*tervi*wees\ percept*ons *lign wit* Castel*s\ (2009)
pers*ective, *hich rec*gnizes the duality of this tra*siti*n, which also f*s**red gl*balization
that, *s a benefit, br*ught instantaneous
inte*con*ection and, as dra*bac*s,
i*creased
*nequality and c*ltural ho*og*niz*tion.
Rev. F*A, T*re*ina PI, v. 23, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, *un. 2*26
ww*4.Unifs*n*t.com.br/revista
K. Krummena*er, S. C. Ros*, M. B*rth
8*
U*animously, when *xpressin* their opinion* rega*ding the increase in *he three
chara*teristics m*ntione* previously, anxi*ty, cons*mpti*n, and imm*di*cy, in *omparison
wi** *revious tim*s and g*nerati*ns, the inte*viewees agreed that *here *as in**ed been an
*ncre*se. Interviewee CK obser*es t*at the cen*r*l diff*ren*e *ie* in the *bundance of offe*s,
*hich directs and m*tivat*s new
desires over time. S*e hi*hlights t*at the *ogic of
*lanned
obs*lescence *timulate* continuous c*nsumption. According to the *ntervie*ee, *ompanies
man*facture dispo*able products and recurrently
launch new model*, such
as the iPhone,
contrib*ting to the maintenance o* this consumerist cycle t*rough planned *b*olescence.
R*g**ding society\s percep*ion of co*sumption, the int*r*iew**s relate* it t* an idea
o* belonging, which, in *he words of in*er*iew** LG, "m*a*u*e* **ur value as a p**son." Sh*
c*mments that th*s feeli*g of w*nting to be*o*g t* * g*oup becom*s a strate*i* t*rget *or
br*nd* becau*e they b*ild a** sel*, above all, a desire, ** i*ea **at by owning * ce*tai*
*ro**ct,
the individu*l becomes
par* o* so*ethi*g
g*eat*r than their mer* exis*ence.
I*t*r*ie*ee FM contri*utes by bringing
the discuss*on i*to the context *f
soc*al media
platforms, stating that *onsum*tion is s*ap*d by what is publicized, *sp*cially by influence*s,
who end up oc*upying a position of au*hority *n* trust on the interne*, leading foll*w*rs to
*cquire what wi*l allow **em to *nt*grate int* ce*tain *o*mun*ti*s and groups. The*e
*pi**ons alig* *ith **Cracken\s (2007) *erspect*ve, **ich
add*esses *onsum*r goods as
representations of
status and groups, as well
as th* em*rge*** of sym*ols and marketing
s*r**egie* t*a* stimul*te c*nsumer d*sire influenced by trend*. I*t*rv*ewee ES, in t*rn, shares
his interpr**ati*n *egar*ing t*is cons*meris* behavior by relating it to *h* lack of *eani*g in
life, dr*win* a pa*all*l with past so*ie*ies:
*he meanin* used to *e t*anscendence a*d going to heave*. Today, with th* *nd of
metanar*atives, there is no longer a teleological meaning. Th**e is no medium- or
long-term me*ning *or *y life any*ore. The meaning *s immediate *onsumption,
t*is hedonism, this selfishnes*, this nar*issi*m of myself with myself, *n the mirror,
ta**ng pictur*s (ES, **25).
Intervi**ee ES\s comment is su*ported by wh*t Lip*vets*y (200*) discusses in *h*
E*a
of *mpt*ness, related t* narci*sistic ind*vidualism, wh*ch turn* the
individual
*oward
**emselves as the center of e**ry*hing, wh*re *hat tr*ly matters above all e*se is personal
happines*. In t*is co*text, co*cern with self-image emer*es *s *n
*ttempt to
provide new
meaning to one\* own e*i*tence an* to fi*l a void left by the ab*ence of *ollective meaning.
An*t*er **pect ver*fied with the
*nterviewees con**rned consumption ** a *eans of
fulfilling emotional needs. Re*arding thi* issue, all agre*d that there is a *el*tionship b*tween
Re*. FSA, Te*esina, v. 2*, n. *, *rt. 4, *. 73-98, jun. 2026 www4.*nif*anet.com.br/revi**a
Generation Z and the FOMO *ffe**: *hen Di*i*al Connectivity Tr*ggers *nxiet*?
87
consumption and compensation, associated with self-reward, persona* *atisfaction, and f*l*ing
emotio*al voids, as poin*ed *ut b* Li*ovetsky (200*). Intervie*ee LG cons*ders that, i*
addi*ion to fulfilli*g emotional
issues, consumption is also a se*rc* for *cceptance.
Interv*ewe* *K em*hasizes that e*acer*ated consumeri*m, with*n psychology, may be
cons**ered * psych*logical c*ndit*on, a
typ* of
addiction character**ed
by e*cessive
shopping. Th*s behav*or is *ighlig*ted by Lipovetsky (2007) regarding *he continuous pursuit
*f pl*asur* as a charac*erist*c of the hypermodern i*dividual, which a**o di***gues with
Bauman\s (2001) perspective c*ncerning the t*ansience a*d ins*ability of things i* moderni*y,
in which w*a* mat*ers i* experiencing the
*le*sure
o* possessing somethin* immedi*tely
w*th*ut con*ern for the futu*e. *he log*c of cons*mptio* in contempora*y societ* *ene*ates a
cyclical movem*nt of desire and f*ustratio*, *hich *ne of th* *spe*ts c*iticized i*
* y bot h
a*thors. Su** an app*oach i* *resent in *he interview*es\ statem*nts w**n they share *h* v*ew
th*t pe*ple are always sear*hing for somethin* more and that, al*hough they agree that this
way of
acting is pa*t *f human behavior, they
u*d*rstand that this immediacy has been
a*grav*t** by t*c*n*lo*ic*l a*vances, which stimula*e *nd *edef*ne consumption, as well as
by social cha*ge*. Following the reasoning of the stu*y, the int**viewees\ perc**tions
rega*d*ng soci*l media pla*for*s and aspect* related *o soc**bility and *oung
p*ople\s
di*conn*ct*on fr*m the *eal world w*re inves**gated.
*.3 Social Med*a Plat*o*ms & Escape from Reali*y
R*gardin* the in*luence of soc*a* media platforms ** pe*p*e\s beha*io*,
a*l
interv*ewees agreed that pla*forms play a sig**f*can* *o*e in *ehavi*r, as wel* *s
in
consumption, but mai*ly emphasize* th*ir
negative effects. Inter*iewee CK, w*en *sked
about t*is *nfl*ence, re*eals t*at:
Just as television *nce *ict*ted beh*vior* for an enti*e gen**ation, *ocial m*dia
to*ay al*o *ictates c*rt*in beha*iors. Th*re is that thing about the algorithm *r*ng**g
*ou the *nforma*ion that b*st fills your search, your curiosity, and *our likes. It *s *
w*y of *haping be*avior, it **eps feeding itself back (CK, 2025).
*he interv*ew*e\s statem*nt regarding algo*it*m* al*gns with Par*se* (*0*2), who
argues tha* this pers*nalized t*ol, fueled by users\ o*n *ata, has b**ome *o power*ul tha* it
*a* *anag* people\s behavior. Invisi**e fi*ters, as the author ca*l* th*m, restric* contact wi*h
*ev. FSA, Teresina PI, v. 23, n. 6, a*t. 4, p. 73-9*, jun. 2026
www4.Unifsanet.com.br/revi*ta
K. Kr*mmenauer, S. C. Rosa, M. Barth
*8
*hat *s different and *re capable of unco*sciously *nducin* *sers to repr*duce *ha* they see
online, *ncorporating disc*u*ses an* replicating trends.
Wit* a more criti*al opinion regar*i*g *latform*, *specially T*kTok, interviewee FM
h*ghlights tha* the*e platf*rms have *een used n*t on*y fo* e*tertai*me*t but also *s sources
of i*for*ation. Howev*r, t*is use en*s *p b*ing harmfu* because it *e*ds many young people
to be*ieve t*at t*ese
s*aces will provide ever**h*ng they need, devalui*g *ra*it*onal and
reliable fo*ms o* learning and access to kn*w*edge, such as boo*s. *heref*re, it is observed
that this exaggerat*d use of *lat*orms has led many child**n **d a*olescents to reject re**ing,
si*ce th* types o* cont*nt mo*t sou*ht after a*d most visible *n these platforms do not
co*t*ibute to the format*on of relevant knowl*dge.
Int*rview*e ES s*ar*s a simil*r o*i*ion, statin* th*t *ocial med*a *l*tforms
validate
and propagat* unfou**ed disco*rses, allowing any**e *o
gain rel**a*ce *nd credibility
simply *ec*use *f the visibil*t* *h*y achieved
o*
*hese pl*t*orms, regardless of ho* it was
obtained. He als* hi*hl*ghts tha* tr*dit*onal m*d*a have gi*en wa* to social media pl*tforms,
w*ic* aligns with C*ve*lo\s (202*) perspect*ve rega*ding th* tra*sition of media dominan*e
due to th* rise of infl*encers, contribu*ing to t*e **ss of
ce*trality in jo***al*sm *nd
traditiona* med*a. F*rthermore, interview*e ES\s statement also *ighlights asp*ct* of prestig*
bias, followi*g and copying *ho*e who appear su*ce*sful,
by **p*asizing how individu*ls
tend t* pla*e **ust in prominent figures on so*ial *ed*a platform* simply because of t*e image
of success t*ese influencers prese*t, as pointed out by Henr*ch *nd G*l-White (2001).In
response to t*e question regarding which p*atform most cont**butes
to addict*** to screens,
interviewees CK, LG, and FM m*ntioned TikTok, while the sociologist *ighlighted
Inst*gram, also me*ti*ned *y interviewe* LG, and X. Regarding Ti*Tok and Instag**m,
inte*v**wee LG observ**
t*at **ese are two platfo*ms in which the ope*a*ion *f th* m*in
sc*een, the feed, is simil*r, *ncou*ag*ng u*ers to scr*ll endlessl* in search o* new content that
is *nst*ntly updat*d, recei*ing multiple *timu*i *imultaneously.
*ompl*mentarily, regarding TikTo*, i*terviewee CK stat*s that the speed of *he
cont*nt displ****
on *his pl**form *timula*es dopamine, *aking it
diffic*lt
*o*
users *o
dis*o*nect fr*m scree*s. *o exemp*ify the i*pa*t of t*es* platfor*s on eve*yday life,
in*erviewee CK **m*ents *hat an acquain*an*e *atch*d the c**ldren\s mov*e Moana 2 *it*
her underage *h*ld*e*, which p*esen*s s*ene trans*tions, colors, **d ***gs in a *apid man*e*
**d later realiz*d that this rhyt*m resembled Ti*Tok, a*ming t*
captur* the
atten*i*n *f
ch*l*ren a**eady acc*sto*ed to this ince**ant dynam*c. These perspectives bring to ligh* the
Opinion Box study (2024), whic* e*poses Brazilians\
perce*ti** of TikTok as t*e *ost
Rev. FSA, Teresina, v. 23, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026
www4.Unifsane*.com.br/revis*a
*eneration Z **d the FO*O Eff*c*: *hen Digital Conne*tivity *riggers Anx*e*y?
89
*ddictiv* pl*tform among othe*s, as *e** a* the **** publication (2*2*), which associate*
TikTok with the d*cl*ne of a*t*ntion and intere*t in other con*en*
*urrently
conside*ed
tradition*l or common.
Co*tinuing the int*rviewees\ percep*ions, intervi*wee E* o*serve* that, in gen*ral,
this dependen*y is construct** fr*m
the *onstant
product*on
of novelty inserted **thin
pla*forms, s*nce peo*le do not want to miss out on *hat is happ*ni*g. He associates t*e act *f
posting something onlin* w*th *** expect*tion *f social validatio* an* considers l*k*s not only
a form of financi*l
profit f*r i**lu*n*ers, for example, *u* al*o * type of symbolic profit
associated *ith person*l recogn**ion. The inte*vie*ees\ pe*cepti*ns corroborate the studie* by
Burh*n a*d Moradzadeh (2020), S*inner (2011), and Le*bke (2022), which relate add*ction
to social media platfo*m* to the
brain\s rewar* m*ch*nism, d*pamine, and
the repetitiv*
pursuit of pleasur*b*e sti*u*i.
Subsequentl*, in order *o under*tand h*w *nterviewees p*rc*i*e the *ense of
belongi*g an* connection *romote* b* social *ed*a p*atforms, th*y *ere as*e* w*ethe* thes*
exper*ence*
might actually *e ill*sor*. The resp*nse* prese*t bot* sim**arities an*
d*vergences. Similarly, in*erviewee CK a** intervie*ee ES consi*er *hat social
med*a
*latf*rms *romote a false *ensation, e*p*ciall* whe* *ne h*s many followers, which doe* *ot
necess*r*ly *mply real fr*endships. In *hi*
s**nario, *nter*iewee ES provo*es reflection
by
asking: "How *any of th*se people can actually help you so*ve a *roblem?".
Thus, for in*ervie**es E*, *G, and CK, a true
connection is on*y est*blished in the
physica* w*rld, or leas* begi*s t*ere, whic* a*igns with B*um*n\s (20*6) app*o**h when **
highlighting the di*fer*nces between th* virtual world, with su*erficial and less c*allenging
*nter*cti*ns,
an* the real *orld, w*ere *ffo*t is required *n dia**gue, c*nst*uction, an*
mai**enance of relationshi*s. Therefor*, it i* possi*le t* c*ns*der that you*g people cu*rentl*
exper*ence a situation of di*con*ection from reality, attr*bu*ing t* fo*lowers *he sam* mea*in*
*nd value as the word friend*. In con*r*s*, interviewe* FM, to some extent, di*erges fro* the
others *y stat**g that *he fe*ling of b*lo*ging and *onnec*io* **e real, b*cause *ndividuals *re
indeed present, int*racti*g and creati*g bonds with *ne another, although she recog*ize* that
what may be f*lse is the m*tivation, s*nce not every*ne recognizes *hat b*ought th*m
together. However, be*aus* they fee* welcomed, they seek to
adapt by adopti*g other
behaviors, not
**ce*sa*ily d*e to personal identification, bu* becaus* o* the feelin* of
acceptance provided by *h* group in which they became integ*ate* and *ccepte*.
However, th* interv*ewee*\ *erspectives conv*rge
in a*firming t*at social
*e*ia
**atform* *re*te di*tance fr*m reality and isolate i*d*vidual* from real social in*eraction.
Rev. FSA, Teresina PI, v. 2*, n. 6, *rt. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026 www4.Unifsa*et.com.br/revis*a
K. Krummena*er, *. C. Rosa, *. Barth
90
Haidt (2024) and Baum*n (201*) poi*t ou* that these p*atforms do not stimulate social
d*velop*ent, ge*eratin* t*e sen*ation of belongi*g to * *rou* whil* actually fa*il*tat*ng
isolation, maki*g face-to-face *el*tionships a*d in*ere*t in creating
new friend*hips i* what
th*y *al* "life outside screens" more *iffi*u*t. In *he *ame lin* of re*soning, interv*ewee LG
comments on the com**tment **qu*red by *eal-world relationships, highlighting *hat th*
vi*tual worl* does not exer*ise
the s*ft skill* n*ce*sa*y to learn
how to *dapt wi**in
a
relati*nshi* *nd that, within th* d*gital **vironment, sim*le disagre*men* may lead *o a
rupture without
any chance f*r reconciliation. *nter*iewe* *K c*rrob**at*s this perspect*ve
when adding *hat: "Yo* en* up feedin* *ou* perso*a* tr*ths *ithin the
network and
it
becomes
very diff*cult to de*l with *hat
*s
diff*re*t from what
yo* think, so *ou isolate
yourself *nd remai* within th*t vi*tual circ*e t*at feeds your beliefs a*out the world [...]"
(CK, 2025).
R*ga*ding the l*ng-term damages caused b* the i*discr*mina** and excess*ve use
of
social medi* platf*rms, interviewees
po*nt** out severa* negative con*equences, such
**
social i*olation, in*reased self-criticism regarding sel*-image,
d*pendency, worsenin*
con*entrati*n, and intensified *nxiet*. More emph*tically, in*e*viewee *M *onsi**rs that for
the most v*l*erable indiv*duals,
unrestri*ted *c*ess t* platforms ca*
be even more
*once*ning, like "a ga*eway *o any ot*er drug," and adds that: "The operating *o*i*, that I wi*l
use *h*s **d it *ill **liev* me from my **oblem, it will em*ty my *ind of what bo*hers me, is
exactly the s*me. And as one thing no *onger fulf*lls m*, I will seek something str*ng*r,
som*t**ng more *mm**ia*e" (FM, 2025).
Interviewee *S i* more modera*e, considering social m*d** platforms i*por*a*t tools,
just as co*pute*s and ca*culator* once emerge*. He believes tha* t*e** new *e*hnol*gies also
p*sse*s a de*ree of *mporta*c*, but th*t *he* shou*d be used consciously a*d accompanied *y
regulat*on. It i* perc*ived that m*ny chang*s
o***r in people\* beha*ior, *s*ecially am*n*
*oung people, wi*h em*hasis on Generat*on Z. This has triggered the FOMO eff*ct, the obj***
of *his articl*, which *ought greater u**erstandi*g throug* th* intervi*wees.
*.4 G*n*ratio* * & the FOMO *ffect
*r*nsky (200*) con*iders Genera*io* Z to be digita* n*t*ves because they have never
exp*rie*ced * s*ciety in which
the *nternet was *bsent. In *his sense, it is *e*e*sar*
to
e*p*a*ize Haidt\s (2024) perspe*tive, w**c* s*ates t*** Genera*ion Z was partic**arly marke*
*y h**e*connectivity an* that, tog**her with ov**protective p*rents, th*s brought profound
impacts *n *ental heal*h and on ways *f deal*ng with *i*e, cont*ibuti*g to th* formation of a
R*v. FSA, Te*esina, v. 2*, n. *, a*t. 4, p. 73-98, j**. 2*26 w*w*.U**fsa**t.com.br/revista
Ge**rat*on Z an* the FOMO Eff*ct: *hen *ig**al Connectivity T*iggers Anxi*ty?
91
m*re fragile generation. Based on t*is, the **udy so*ght *he intervie*ee*\ opinions regarding
how Gen*ration Z is perceived a*d how *he F*MO ef*ect *anifests *tself, espe*ially among
th*se *oung individuals, addressin* more v*ln*rable profiles and d*scussing possible cause*
of t*e FOMO ef*ect.
Consider**g current debates rega**ing anxi*ty and *motiona* vu*nerabili** among
younger ge*erat**ns, interviewees wer* asked whether they *greed with t** *tatement that
Gene*a*ion
Z is mor* fragile compar*d to pr*vious genera*ions and which fac*or*
mig*t
explain thi* percep**on. All interviewed professionals recogn*zed this f*ag**ity and
psychologic*l sufferin* as a re*lity *or
this gen*ratio*, alth*ugh they mentioned different
*aus*s *ontribu*ing to this outcome.
Intervi*wee LG adopts a *ultifactori*l pers*ective, *tt***uting this greater fragility to
uncertai*ties r*gar*ing th* futur*, also relate* to environmental issues, social change*, and the
f*agil*ty of
curr*n* *amily structures, wi*h emotional*y unprepare* pa**nt* who h**e n*t
unde*gone therapy *nd are un*ble
to pro*ide the
*ecessary support
fo* their ch*l*ren. For
inte*vie*e* CK, this scenario, such as **e in*rease in anxi*ty, *o*stitutes a contemporary
p*enome*on that has inten**fied in rec*nt times, e*en in * contex* where mental
hea*th
is
discussed more openly and where h**p is so*ght more frequ*ntly than in old** g*nerations.
She points to overprotect*on du*ing childhood a* on* of *he *ain factors *ehind th*s
w**sening, since it prev**te* m*ny in*ividuals from this generati*n *rom f*cing c*allenging
*ituati*ns, *esulting *n young people with anxi*ty, l*w self-esteem, low tolerance for
*r*stration, rejectio*, and t*e di*f*cul*ies and responsibiliti*s o* adul* life. I*tervi*wee *K\s
*tatem**t *lig*s with Haidt\s (2024) *heo*y, which ide*tifie* overp*otection in childhood as
one of the m*in ca*ses ** this ge*erational cha*ge.
Interv*ewee *S, in turn, attribu*es t*is issue to chan**s in family s*ructure* marked by
smaller family sizes
and s**ial distancing, st*ting that
"*e are all increasingl* ph*sically
c*ose to o*e ano**er in
cities,
*rowde* together,
but s*ci*l** dista*t fr*m each oth*r."
**flecting on *** generat*onal traj*ctory, he observes that this outcome is also caus*d by the
political scenario and **e ed*ca*ional model o* the time, which transitioned from an
autho*itarian to a democratic reg*me.
Interviewee F* points to the indirect influence of tec*nology a* an imp*rtant fac*o*.
*o* her, pare*ts\
*ehav*or in t*eatin* s*cia* media p*atforms as a diary, reco*ding and
ex*o*ing every stage of c*ild*en\s develo*ment, stim*lates a*xiety in *hildren, ma*ing them
*ee* pr*s*ur*d to meet
i*posed exp*ctat*o*s. Furth*rmo*e, whe* referrin* *o Genera*ion Z,
inte*viewee FM, who is a psychopedagog*e, observes t*at du* to exces*ive freedom and the
Rev. *SA, **resina *I, v. 23, *. 6, art. 4, p. *3-98, jun. 2026 ww*4.Unifsan*t.com.br/re*ista
K. Krumm*nauer, S. C. Rosa, M. *ar*h
92
absence *f prope* guidanc*, *oun* people b*com* lost amid so man* ch*ice*, emp***r**g
themse*ve* through what she calls e*pt* arguments.
*n light of these opinion*, it is veri*ied that the *haracteristics exposed
b y th e
*n*e*v**wees connect with the FOM*
effec* and one of i*s main charact*risti*s, anxi*ty.
S*ekin* to expand the int*rviewees\ opinions regarding the excessive use
of social media
pl*t*o*ms in trig*ering
these
diso*ders, it *a* obs*rved that, in *heir statements, *he family
context i* vi**e* as a *igh*y infl*ential factor, repeat*dly m*ntioned throughout t*e
int*rvi*ws, as well as the *ela*io*ship between informational overlo*d *nd anxiety.
Interv*ew*e LG *ons*ders that, in *solati*n, witho*t conside*ing **ne*ic,
envir*nment*l, *nd *ocial fac**rs, t** use
of social media **atforms is not ne*e*sarily so
problematic, a*though s*e *ighlights th** it can i*d*ed be*om* a *armfu* f*ctor. Interviewee
F*
point* out tha* *hildren with pred*spos*tions
are al*eady more like*y t* de*elop such
diso*ders, but e*phasizes that e*en w*thou* *hi* **edi*pos*ti*n, when *arents *h*ms*l*es do
not
know *ow to deal with technology and *llow ch*ldre*
to access ina*prop*ia*e c*ntent
*i*hou* *egula*ion, t*ese *the*wise h*althy child*en also become susce*t*ble. She comment*
*hat excessi*e exposure lea*s *o a feeling of insuffi*iency,
in whic* childr*n never feel
satisfied or capab*e and, w*en f*ced w*th frustration, giv* up at the first attemp*. Over time,
this pa*tern contri*u*es t* the deve*opm*nt of chara*teristics as*oc*ated with anxiety and
depression.
*lt*ough i**erviewee CK agre*s that there a*e mo*e vulnerabl* profil**, she believes
that *hese disorders ma* ari*e
i* an***e. According to
her,
situations such *s can*ella*ion
with*n * social group c*n
ge*era*e fee*i*gs o* r***ction, trig*ering de*re*sive conditions *n
**y profile e*perienc*ng *uch a situation, for examp*e. Regarding the prof*les m*st vu**erable
t* exp*riencing FO*O, i*terviewees poi*ted to soci***y disconnected *ndividual*, people
w**h
fe*er psychologica* *esou*ces,
* h*s e
alr**** presenting
low self-esteem, anxiety *nd
depr*ssio*, a*d young in*ividuals in deve*opment*l stages, such as children and adolescents.
*n**r*iewee ES adds *hat when *ndiv**uals ar* socia*ly isolated, they **e more l*k*l*
to suffer t*e impacts cause* by socia* media pl*tforms. In oth*r wor*s, t*ese are individua**
who l*ck *amily bond*, close friend*hips, a*d
active par*icipation in a community.
Interviewee FM resumes t** di*cussion regarding Gen*ration *,
observing *h*t for thes*
young people, th* no*i*n of
*elong*ng was
built excl*si*ely *n the virtual e*vironment and,
for thi* *eason, she *onsiders *hem the ge**ration with *he profile *ost vu*nerable to FO*O.
Interviewee* were also asked whether the fe*r of mis**ng out woul* be a refle*ti*n of
dissatisfaction with real li*e. Their r**pon*es in*icate that there *s i*deed a c*nnec*ion
Rev. FSA, T*resina, v. 23, *. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026 www4.*nifsanet.*om.br/revista
G**eration Z and *he *OMO Effect: When Digital Connectivity T*iggers Anxiety?
93
betwee*
the two, g*nera*ly related to other asp*cts alrea*y an*lyzed, such a* the need *or
ac*e*tance, emoti*nal deficienci*s, and FOMO as a me*n* ** esca*ing
one\s own reality.
Thus,
it
i* pert*nent to *ighlight *nt*rviewee L*\s statement, in w*ich she observes that
alth*ugh ma*y *eople claim *o *e indi*fer*nt *o others\ opi*ions, deep down e*eryone desires
to b* acc*pted and l*ved. Sh* relat*s FOMO to the s*nsation o*
ex*st*ng an* being
re*ogni*ed:
It tou*h** this feelin* that if I am *ot ther*, consuming, int*racting, knowing,
knowing w*o is who, I will not h*ve a solid identi*y. I will not be som**ne, I w*ll be
invisible. It is from ther* that I e*ist, t*at I *ppear, that I a*. So, it is this id*a *hat if
y*u are *nline, you are alive (L*, 2025).
*rom the i*terv*ewees\ *tat*me*ts, i* becomes po*sible *o understand how the fe*r of
m*ss*ng out mainl* af**cts thi* genera**on that lives extensively *hrough screens. *ccording to
the intervi*we*s, s*cial me**a platforms generate a feelin* of F*MO in users who watch
others\ *ives as a spect**le, ge*erating
int**nal pr*s*ure to achieve the same succ**s.
Interviewee ES and interviewee CK
e**hasize that soci*l media platforms displ*y only
an
ide**i*** fragment of happy moments that *o n*t a*wa*s corresp*nd to re*lity.
*u*h
a
situation is *videnced by Owen (2018) th*ough the report of *n*erview*e Tess, *** addressed
the pressur*
and *rustration s*e f*l* for no* being
able to repl*cate
*h*tos and
achi**e the
same *tan*a*d* as t*e girls she s*w on Ins*agram. Thus, it is noted tha* *he t*p* of con*ent
publishe*, designed to b* aestheti*ally pleasing, as wel* as algor*thm*, fun*t*on as k*y
ele*ents causing *speci*lly young people to be affe*ted by the fear of mis*ing out or losing
some*hi**, ther*b* impacting their mental and even phy*ical
*ea*th, such *s in c*ses of
b*limia.
At the e*d o* *he intervie**, interviewees pointed to some paths to*ard e**ablishing a
healthi*r r*lationship with the digital wor*d. The su*gestions *entio*e* included: awareness
regarding usage, resuming fa*e-to-face social intera**io*s, muti*g *otifi*ations, turning off
*ell *hones during certain
occasion*, usin* tools pro**de*
b y * he
platf*rms t*emselves to
monit** and manag* screen t*me, as *e*l as se*king othe* so*rces of pleasure in the physical
world. Complementarily, int*rviewee ES advises that *t is necessary to focus o* the *r*s*nt,
emp*asizing that the p*st has already *app*ned *nd the future is m*rely a projec*io* *f what
may stil* occur. Based *n the*e co*tri*ut*o*s, it b*come* evident that the b*st p*th is t* fin*
*al*nce between these *wo w*rlds, s* that technology func*i*ns merely as *n al*y rather t*an a
subst*tute f*r existe*ce o*tside *c*eens.
Rev. FSA, Teresi*a PI, v. 23, n. 6, ar*. *, *. 73-98, *un. 2026 www4.Unifsan**.co*.br/revist*
K. *rummenau*r, S. C. *osa, M. Barth
9*
5 FINA* CONSIDER*TI**S
This resea*ch aimed t* *nve**igate *nd analyze, fr*m *he persp*ctive o* speciali**s, to
what extent social medi*
p*atforms are re*pon*ible for inte**i*ying the f*e*ing of FOMO
among users and wha* consequences this *as on the behavior of Ge***a*ion Z. Based on the
i*tervie**es\ perspectives, *ecame evi*e*t that it
*lth**g*
soc*al med*a *l*tforms play
a
signifi*ant role in the emer*e*ce an* a*plification of the FOMO effect, *his *ntensification is
*o**ected in a *eeper wa* to human fra*ili*y, *on*tituting a refl*ctio* of an exter**l pro*ess.
In other *ords, part of the dif*iculties fa*ed b* c*ntemporary *ndivid*als in rea* l**e end
up
bein* projec*ed
i*to *oc*a* media *l*tforms. Therefore, i* is
observed that psychological
*actors, such as
the search f*r acceptance, *elonging, a*d emotional de*iciencies, *ns*rte*
wit*in a hyp*rcons*merist, in*ividualistic, an* immed*ate context, are central fac**rs
in
intensifying t*is *ffect. It is wo*th *ighlighting that, ** contem*orary s*cie*y,
con**mption
a*t* as a sea*ch for soci*l *nc*usion, especial*y among already fragile ind*vi*u*ls who also use
consu*ption as a means of f*lfilling *mot*ona* d*fi*ienci*s. This pursuit *s const*n*ly f*eled
*y *oc**l media p*atf*rms t*rough
ele*ents th*t
*perate toge*her, such a* advert*sing,
inf*uencers, a** algor**hms, w*ich be**fit from the *ear o* missing out.
Particul*rly regarding Gener*t*on Z, it wa* fou*d that this is the generation most
vulner**le digital FOMO due its hyper*onnectivity. How*ve*, this
to
to
**lnerab*lity **rie*
from per*on *o pers*n *nd is also influ*nced by fac*ors such as f*agile *amil* structures o* t*e
pres**ce of other diso*ders. Furt*erm*re, t*e in*erviewees\ p*rspecti**s rein**rce t*e authors\
ide*s regard*n* *he damages c*use* b* the unc*ntro*led *o*sump*ion of c*r*a*n platforms,
especia*ly *ikTok, among this gene*ation, whic* no* f*ces p*oblems related to lack of fa*e-
to-fa*e socializat*on and d*fficu*ty in
dealing ap*ropriately wi** criticis* and frust*ated
expectati*n*. I*
*an *e verified that so*ia* *edia p*atf*rms cann** b* c*nsidered the m*in
culprit* for the emergence and int*nsific*tion of FOMO,
but rather function
as vectors that
favor
*nd sti*ulate this ef*ect, especia**y *mo*g *oun* *ndivi***ls from Ge*eration Z, who
seek to fu*fill emo*i**al deficien**e* a*d social *c**pt*nce, transformin* the fear o* m*s*ing
out on somet*ing oc*asio*al into a fre*uent sensation, making it even e*sier *o observ* in the
twen*y-first centu*y. In addition, the *nte**iewees\ perception* reve*le* that platf*rms *reate
an ideal**ed reality in which other p*op*e\* lives are alwa*s b**te* and also impose sta*d*rds
of beauty and b*havior.
The r*l*vance o* this topic lies in provoking reflection regar*ing the role o*
commu*ica*ion
an* the need for more respo*s*ble s**a*egies that *ons*der impacts
on
t he
Rev. FS*, Teresina, v. 23, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026
ww*4.Unifsane*.co*.br/*e*i*ta
G*nerati*n Z *nd the FOM* Ef*ect: *hen Digital Con*ectivity Triggers Anxiety?
95
mental *ealth of Generation Z, a* aspe*t fr*q*ently ne*lected ** the market *nd advertisi*g
profess*onals. Finally, th* present study *pen* pa*hs fo* furt*er inves*i*at*on of the topic
*hr*ug* th* in***sio* of a greater *um*er *f interviewe*s, *s well as the s*arc* for
other
perceptio*s regarding this effect through interviews w*th digita* influencers and advertisers
who, in some way, sti*ula*e an* benefit from p**voki*g f*elings o* *OMO in ind*vidu*ls.
*E*ERENCES
BARDIN, L. Análise *e Conte*do. *ão *au*o: Almedin*, *016.
BAUMAN, Z. *apitalis*o Parasitário: * outros temas contemporâ*e*s. Ri* de Janeiro:
Zahar, 20*0.
BAUMAN, Z. Medo Líquido. Rio de *aneiro: Zahar, 2008.
BAUMAN, Z. Modernidade Líq*ida. Ri* d* Janeiro: Zah*r, *001.
BAUMAN, Z. Zygmunt Bauman: "As redes sociais são uma arma*ilha". El País, 2*1*.
Availab*e at: http*://b**sil.elpais.co*/bra*il/2015/12/30/cul*ura/14515044*7_6*5885.html.
Accessed
o*:
2*
ou* .
*024.
BURHAN, R.; MORADZADEH, J. Neuro*ransmitt*r Do*amin* (*A) and its *ol* in *h*
Development of Social Med** *ddict*on. Journal o* Neurology & Neurophysiol**y, Reino
Unido, v.11, *. 7, p. 5*7, nov. 2020.
BUENO, *. Grat*ficação rápi*a * um dos fatores que podem *xplicar * depe*dência d*s redes
so*iais. Jornal da USP, 20*4. Available a*: https://jornal.u*p.br/?p=71*127. Accessed o*: 13
nov. 2024.
CA*AROTTO, *. Dossiê das
gerações: * que são as gera*ões *illennials, GenZ, A*pha
e
como sua ma**a pode
alc*nç*-las. *ock Content, 2020. A*ailable at:
ht*ps://rockcontent.com/br/b*o*/do*sie-das-*eracoe*/. Ac*essed on: 0* nov. 2024.
CAST*LL*, M. A Sociedade Em Rede - Vol. * - * Era Da Inf**m**ão: Economia,
Socied*de * Cult*ra. São Paulo: *a* & Terr*, *009.
C**TELLS, M. "É um *o*e*t* s*mbrio", diz **nuel Cas*ell* *obre inter**t e demo*racia.
Veja, *024. Avai*able a*: https://ve*a.abril.com.br/pagi*as-ama*elas/e-um-m*men**-*o*brio-
diz-manuel-castells-s*bre-int*rnet-e-d*mocrac*a. Accessed on: *1 out. 2024. Entrevista
co*cedida a Luiz Pa*lo So*za.
*OVELLO, C. Influenciadores: * n*va voz *e autori*ade na era da *e*aç*o *. Metrópol**,
202*. Available at: ht*p*://www.metropoles.com/colunas/*-*uzz/inf*ue*ciadores-a-*ova-voz-
*e-autoridade-*a-er*-da-ger**ao-z. Ac*essed o*: 18 nov. 2024.
CREDIT KAR*A. Social media driv** G*n Z to o*ers***d on summer tr*vel, *tudy f*n*s.
*redit K*r*a, 2023. Avail*ble at: http*://www.credi**arm*.com/*bout/comm*ntary/s**ial-
Rev. FSA, Ter*sin* PI, v. 23, *. 6, art. 4, *. 73-98, jun. 202* www*.Unifsanet.*om.br/re*ista
K. Krummenauer, *. C. Ros*, M. Bart*
96
media-dri*es-gen-z-*o-o*ers*end-on-summer-*ravel-study-f*nds. Acces*ed on: 12 nov. 2024.
*ATARE*OR**L; WE ARE SOCIA*; MELTWATER. *igital
*024: Brazil.
DataReportal, 2024a. Avai*able
at:
http*://*atar**ort*l.*om/reports/digital-2024-brazil.
Accessed on: 31 *u*. 2024.
DATAREPORT*L; WE ARE **CIAL; MEL*WATER. Digital 2024 July Glo**l Statshot
Rep*rt. DataRe*ortal, 2024b. Available at: h*tps://data*eportal.com/rep*rts/dig*tal-2*24-
july-glob*l-st*tshot. *cces*ed on: 09 set. 2024.
ELHA*, J. *. S*ndrome de FOMO: síntese, fundam*ntos teó*icos e revisão da liter**ura sobre
relações co* a gravidade da af*tividad* ne*at*va e o uso problemático da tecnol*gi*. D*bates
em Psiq*iatria, Rio d* J*neiro, v. 12, p. 1-*8, 2022. **I: http://do*.org/10.*590/1516-4446-
2020-0870.
EISE*BERGER, *. I. Why rej*ction *u**s: What socia* neuroscien*e has reve*le* about the
brain\s res*onse to *ocial *ejection. The Handbook
** Social Neuroscie*ce,
New York,
p.
58*-598, **11.
GIL, A. C. Como Elaborar Projetos *e Pesquisa. São P*ulo: Atlas, 20*2.
GWI.
*ocial
media
by
gene*ation.
G*I,
20*3.
Available
at:
HTTPS://304927.FS1.HUBSPOTUSERCON**NTNA1.NET/HUBFS/304927/SOCIAL%20
MEDIA%20BY%20G*NERA*IO*%20%20*W*.P*F?UTM_CAMPAIGN=FY24_*C_AL
L_G*_SOCIAL_BE*IN*_THE_SCREENS&T*_M*DIUM=EMAI*&_HSENC=P2A*QT
Z9BKNBEDHL*JPQRGVXIX*WT7*BU8D*VWHGUDLMPBNXKNORGT*DMZ*JA
*W8FR9**H*MB_YXNFG_UDZ5**D_TPLXBXGH*&_HSMI=289783341&UTM_CO
NTEN*=2897833*1&UTM_SOURCE=HS_AUT*MATION. Accessed *n: 19 n*v. 2024.
HAIDT, J. A Gera*ão A*s**sa: Como a infância hiperconectada *stá ca**a*d* uma epid*m*a
de transtorn*s mentais. São *a**o: Companhia **s Le*ras, 2024.
HENRICH, J.; GIL-WHITE, J. F. The evol*tion
of *restige: *reely co*fer*ed deference as a
mechanism for enhanci** t*e benefits *f cultural transmission. Evolution and Human
Behavior, v. **, n. 3, p. 1*5-**6, maio 2001.
I*G* Instituto Brasileir* -
de Geografia e Estatíst*ca. Projeções
da *opulação do Brasil
e
Unidades da *ederação: 2000-2070: *opulação por sexo e idade simples. IBGE, **2*.
Available
at:
h*tps://*ww.ibge.gov.br/est*tisticas/sociais/populac*o/9109-*rojecao-da-
po*ulaca*.h*ml?edic*o=4105*&t=re*ultados. Accessed on: 01 nov. 2*24.
INDIA, F. What Happe*ed to *OMO?. Afte* Babel, 2024. Available
*t:
h**ps://w*w.aft*rbabe*.com/p/what-happened-t*-
*o*o?r=5a5*la&u*m_medium=ios&*r*edRedirect=true. Accessed o*: 03 ma*. 202*.
LAKATOS, *. M.; MAR*ONI, M. A. Fu**amen*os de Meto*olo*ia *i*ntífica. S*o Paulo:
Atlas, 2*03.
LEMBKE, A. Naçã* Dopamina. S*o Pau*o: Vestí*i*, 2022.
Rev. FSA, Teresina, v. 23, n. 6, a*t. 4, p. *3-98, j*n. 2*26 www4.Unifsanet.com.br/rev*st*
*enerat*on Z and *he FOMO Eff*ct: When D*gital Con*ectivity Trig*ers Anxiety?
97
L*POVETSKY, *. A E*a do Vazio: ensaio* *obre o ind*vidualismo contem*o*â*e*.
São
Pau*o: Manole, 200*.
L*POVETSKY, G. A Feli*idade Paradoxal: e*saio sobre * sociedade de hiper*o*sumo. São
P*ul*: Co*panhia das Letras, *007.
MCCRA*KEN, G. Cu*tura e co*sumo: uma explicação teórica da estr*tura e do m*vim*nt*
*o sig*i*icado cu*t*r*l dos *ens de c*nsumo. Revi*ta de Administração de Empr**as, São
Paulo, v. 47, n. 1, p. 71-84, jan./mar. 2007.
MOBI*E T***; **INION B*X. R. Uso de A*ps
no Brasil (abr 24). Mob*le Tim*, 20*4.
Availabl* at: https://www.mobil*tim*.c*m.b*/pesq*isas/*so-de-ap*s-no-b*as*l-abril-de-2024/.
Accessed on: 12 *ov. 2*24.
OPIN*O* BOX. Relató*io TikT*k n* Brasil 2024. Opini*n B*x,
2024. Available
a*:
https://cont*n*.a*p-us1.*om/JY8*Y/2024/*4/*4/c0*ffc72-890f-4*70-8002-e2*7753c1fb7.pdf.
*cc*ssed on: 04 n*v. 2024.
*WEN, *. A *quaç*o da geração Z. WGSN, 2*18. A*ailable
at:
https://www.wgsn.com/a*sets/marketing/em*ils/2018/GenZ_equation/public/Ge*_Z_Equatio
n_pu*lic_pt.pd*. Accessed on: 04 nov. 2*24.
PARISER, E. O filtro i*visível: o *u* a inte*net está esconden** de você. Rio de Janei*o:
Zahar, 20*2.
PR*NSKY, M. Dig*tal natives, di*ital im**gr*nts. On the Horizon, MCB Universit* Press,
v. 9, n. 5, p. 1-6, out. 20*1.
PRZYBYLSKI, A. K. et al. Mo*ivat*onal, emotional, and behavioral correlat*s o* fear of
missing out. Computers in *uman Behavior, v.29, n.4, *. 18*1-*848, jul. *013.
PR*DA*OV, C. C.; *REI*AS, E. C. Metodologi* do trabalho
cientí*ico: mét*dos e
***nicas da pesquisa * do t*a**lho *cadêmico. Novo Hamburgo: Feevale, 2013.
ROS*INI, M. C. A
***demi* de FOMO. Su*erinteress**te, 2*22. Avai*able
at:
htt*s://s*per.abril.com.b*/compo*tamento/a-epidemia-de-fom*. Accessed o*: 11 n*v. 2*24.
RSPH - Royal *oci*ty For
Pu**i* Health. Status o* Mind: Soc*al media and you*g *eo*le\s
me*t*l health
and wellbeing. Royal Society For P*bli* He*lth, 20*7. Availa*le *t:
h*t*s://www.rsph.**g.uk/static/uploa*e*/d125b27c-0b*2-41c5-a2c0155a8887cd01.pdf.
Accessed *n: *5 nov. 2024.
S*INNER, *. B. S*bre o Beha*iorismo. Sã* Paulo: Cultrix, *01*.
TURAT*, L. C. N. Síndrome
de FOMO: * que é, sinto*as e principais causas. Psicólog*s
São Paulo, 2*23. Availabl* a*: https://ww*.psicologossaopaulo.com.br/bl*g/si*drome-de-
fomo/. Acc**sed on: 12 no*. 2024.
TURKLE, S. S**rry Tur*le: Fronteiras do r*al e *o vir*ual. Revis*a FA*ECOS, *orto
*legre, *. 6, n. 11, p. 1*7-123, dez. de 1999. Entre*ista c*ncedid* a Federi*o Casalegno.
Rev. FSA, Teresina PI, v. 23, n. 6, ar*. 4, p. 73-9*, jun. 2026 www*.*n*fsanet.c*m.b*/revista
K. Krummenaue*, *. C. R*sa, M. Bar*h
98
WG*N.
Consumidor
do
futur*
2024.
*024.
A*ai*a*le
at:
https://*edia.wgsn.c*m/wgsn/PT_WP_F**0*4_0526.*df
Como Refer*nciar este Artig*, con*orme *BNT:
KRU*MENA***, K; CROS*, S; BARTH, M. *eneration Z and the *OMO Eff*ct: When Digita*
Connectivity Trigg*rs *nxiety? Rev. FSA, Teresina, *. *3, n. 6, art. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026.
Con*rib*i*ão dos Autores
K. Krummena*e*
*. C. R*sa
M. Bart*
1) concepção e planejame*to.
*
X
X
2) anál*se e inter*r*tação d** dados.
X
X
X
3) el*boração do rascunh* ou *a revi*ão crítica do conteúdo.
*
*
X
4) partici**ção na aprov*ção da ve*são fina* do *anuscr*to.
X
X
X
Rev. F*A, Teres*na, v. *3, n. *, ar*. 4, p. 73-98, jun. 2026
ww*4.Unifs**et.*om.br/*evista
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
ISSN 1806-6356 (Print) and 2317-2983 (Electronic)
