Gen Zs are choosing JOMO over FOMO. I think they’re onto something

May 18, 2026 — 7:00pm

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I used to show up to things I didn’t want to attend, in clothes I didn’t need to buy, in Ubers I couldn’t really afford, to rooms full of people I’d spend the whole night mentally escaping. Not because I wanted to be there. Because I was terrified of not being there. FOMO – that gnawing, slightly embarrassing anxiety – drove me out the door for years. And let’s be honest, the work-related ’gram: she still needs some feeding.

Well. That story is evolving. Fast. There’s a quiet, very confident counter-movement happening in living rooms and on sofas everywhere. JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out.

It’s not laziness, and it’s not antisocial behaviour. It’s a deliberate, considered choice to opt out of the relentless performance of being seen to be “out there”, and opt into something that actually feels good. Prioritising quiet over noise. Genuine friendships over obligation. And realising that being a little unreachable is more of a status symbol than always being available.

The numbers back it up. According to a recent report, people who embrace JOMO report 32 per cent lower stress levels on average, and sleep 45........

© The Age