FEAR OF MISSING OUT AND INFORMATION AVOIDANCE IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION FLOW IN THE ERA OF INFORMATION SOCIETY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

In the current information society era, the role of social media is not only as a communication platform but also as the main source of information flow for billions of users around the world. The increased use of social media in the information society era encourages the massive dissemination of information, thus creating an abundant and continuous flow of information (Information Flow). This condition encourages the emergence of two often contradictory behavioral tendencies: fear of missing out (FoMO) and information avoidance. This study uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology to explore the process of information flow on social media affecting the formation of FoMO and Information Avoidance behaviors in the context of the information society. Based on a review that has been conducted on 21 kinds of literature, it is shown that the flow of information encourages users to always be connected and avoid missing important information. The large volume of information creates challenges social media users feel, such as stress and fatigue over information overload. As a result, social media users' responses tend to avoid information as a coping mechanism to reduce cognitive and emotional burdens. Examined using Frank Webster's characteristics of the information society, these two phenomena reflect a complex relationship and influence the mental well-being of users in the information society era.