ABSTRACT. This paper takes a unique approach to fear of missing out research by focusing on improper behavior and distressing patterns of use. Employing data from Deloitte, The Economist, Gallup, Mashable, Pew Research Center, Statista, The Wall Street Journal, etc., I performed analyses regarding % of internet users watching online videos every day, the number of times individuals estimate they look at their phones in a day (U.S., by age group, years), % of U.S. smartphone owners who check their phones at least several times an hour, share of respondents who cannot imagine life without the Internet, hours per day spent online via a mobile device, per user, time U.S. teens could go without using certain devices, average time U.S. consumers spend with digital media per day, % of cell owners who did particular activities using their cellphone during their most recent social gathering, top online activities individuals engage in at least once a day, % of teens who count certain platforms as one of the three most common ways they talk with their closest friend, how often U.S. Internet users unplug, and the impact of technology on relationships, by cell phone, social media, and online dating status.

Keywords: fear of missing out; improper behavior; distressing pattern of use

How to cite: Bratu, Sofia (2018). “Fear of Missing Out, Improper Behavior, and Distressing Patterns of Use. An Empirical Investigation,” Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations 17: 130–140.

Received 17 September 2017 • Received in revised form 24 February 2018
Accepted 26 February 2018 • Available online 15 March 2018

doi:10.22381/LPI1720187