What If You Never Felt FOMO?

You've opened an app just to see what everyone else is doing. You've bought something because it said "only 2 left." You've seen photos of a party you weren't invited to… and felt it in your stomach. That feeling has a name. And this time, the Engine brought a crowd. 👀 Keep an eye on the counter in the corner. It's part of the story. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 That feeling in your stomach 0:43 The party everyone's going to 1:02 Round 1: The crowd 1:42 Round 2: The last one 2:18 Round 3: The highlight reel 2:59 Round 4: Left out 3:30 Saturday night 3:53 Everybody is missing out 4:08 Three rules 4:35 Final round: two hundred people or one friend? 4:58 The counter 5:21 Next time 🧠 3 RULES FOR FOMO 1. When something says "only 2 left," ask: would I still want it if there were 100? 2. Mute the highlight reel. Follow people who make you feel better, not smaller. 3. Make your own plans first. Then there's nothing to miss. 💬 What's one thing you bought, joined, or watched just because everyone else did? Tell me below 👇 📚 SOURCES • Conformity experiments: Solomon Asch (1951) • Hotel towel study: Goldstein, Cialdini & Griskevicius, Journal of Consumer Research (2008) • Cookie-jar scarcity: Worchel, Lee & Adewole, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1975) • Hotel booking pressure selling: UK Competition and Markets Authority (2019) • Social comparison theory: Leon Festinger (1954) • The spotlight effect: Gilovich, Medvec & Savitsky, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2000) • Social exclusion and pain ("Cyberball"): Eisenberger, Lieberman & Williams, Science (2003) ▶ Episode 1, "What If You Could See the Real Price of Everything?":    • What If You Could See the Real Price of Ev...   ▶ Episode 2, "What If You Could See Every Trick in a Casino?":    • What If You Could See Every Trick in a Cas...   ▶ Next time: What If You Met Yourself at 70? The Bias Engine: animated stories about the hidden tricks that take your money, your time and your attention. Subscribe. The Engine's just warming up. #psychology #fomo #socialmedia