This is a phenomenon called FOMO (the fear of missing out). The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is a potent force that exists in the world of smartphones. It usually compels people to go chasing the latest smartphone models. In this article, we’re going to be exploring FOMO and Smartphones and why many people feel the need to have the latest smartphones.

FOMO is quite easy to understand but I feel like, I’ll need to go into real-life examples that I have seen. Just to try to get my gist across.

A Real-life example

Let’s talk about a guy, we’ll call him John (not his real name of course). Now in 2019, the world was a different place and I had just paid 66,900 Naira for my Redmi Note 7. After downloading GCAM, I went to town and hyped the hell out of this device.

Of course, people began to notice and those were the days when I’d spend hours convincing people to take a punt on the RN7, using my pics as a motivational tool.

Before long, Redmi phones began to gain ground and soon became popular. That’s where John came in. John wanted to buy a Redmi Note 7 but he needed to speak to someone who had used it. So, I spent hours talking to John and trying to convince him. I showed him the GCam and performance metrics of the Snapdragon 660. He seemed impressed and I was convinced that he was sold on the phone.

Then the Redmi Note 8 made a surprise entrance and was initially cheaper than the Redmi Note 7. In a sudden twist, John no longer wanted the Redmi Note 7. He now wanted Redmi Note 8 but just like before, he needed convincing. I now had to sell him the camera improvements that the Redmi Note 8 had over the Redmi Note 7 and how it managed battery better. He nodded his head thoughtfully thanking his stars that he had waited.

Then all of a sudden, he didn’t want Redmi Note 8 anymore, he now wanted the Mi A3. He saw the white variant and suddenly couldn’t stand the Redmi Note 8. The Mi A3 was now all he wanted to hear and talk about. And again I spent hours explaining the pros and cons of both devices and he said that he’ll think about it.

Surprise surprise (it was no longer a surprise), John messaged me again when he suddenly discovered the Mi 9T with a pop-up camera. It’s the Mi 9T that he wants now. By then I was frustrated with him and didn’t reply.

A lot of people are like the John Doe of my story. They’re still here with us in 2023 and probably always will be.

The people who are afraid of missing out on the latest stuff. They want their phones to be the latest. If it’s not the latest, doesn’t matter if the phone is fine. They don’t want it anymore. Haven’t you seen people who bought Redmi Note 11 for like a month and as soon as Redmi Note 12 came out, they sell off perfectly good phones that they’ve barely even touched? Someone even told me that I knew that Redmi Note 12 was coming, so why’d I allow him to buy an old model? Now he’s wasted his money.

A lot of companies know this and they prey on this fear of people by teasing them with adverts or subliminal messages about what they may be missing out on if they don’t get the latest phone. And you know what? It works! It simply works!

Possible Causes of FOMO and Smartphones

So let’s look at the possible reasons why people develop FOMO.

FOMO itself:

The first is well FOMO. Fear of missing out on new stuff. Tecno and Infinix exploited this for years by refusing to update their older devices beyond 6 months. If you wanted new updates and features, you had to buy a new phone. Simple as that.

Social and Peer Pressure:

The second is social/peer pressure. All my friends are using the latest phone and I’m the only one using the old one. How will my social circle perceive me? Will they look down on me? How will ladies treat me if I approach them with a beat-up Redmi 9?

Envy and Jealousy:

This one seems rather petty but there are people who legit hate other people for having newer devices. Laughable but true. These people feel put down by those who have newer devices even when nothing of such may have occurred.

Wanting to feel better than others:

Another petty and pretty laughable one. This one is also quite common. Have you seen someone who’s always crapping on others for using older phones and talking about how they only use the latest? Check properly, they may be suffering from FOMO.

Successful marketing and advertising:

This one is self-evident. When companies make very successful advertising campaigns that capture the hearts and minds of their target audience.

Social validation:

There are some social circles where people may wanna enter but it’s usually gated with a certain type of phone. A high-level clique may all use the latest iPhone 15 series for example. To get in there, you’ve gotta have the latest iPhone. Another one is when guys are looking for the attention of the ladies. I have seen many guys buy Flagship phones that they don’t even like just to get attention from the opposite sex.

Conclusion

The reasons behind FOMO are very many. They stem from the desire for new experiences, societal expectations, envy, and the quest for social validation. Recognizing these influences is crucial for individuals to make mindful choices, striking a balance between embracing new tech and finding contentment with their current devices.

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