The narrow line between photographer and FoMOgrapher. The “fear of missing out” (FoMO) of young professionals

Abstract

ABSTRACT Social networking sites (SNS) have brought not only an endless flow of information into people’s lives, but also a significant problem that has already been given an official name – FoMO, or “fear of missing out” syndrome, which is a real phenomenon that is becoming more common and can cause serious stress. “Fear of missing out” syndrome is an obsessive fear of missing an interesting event or a good opportunity, which is also provoked by viewing/using SNS. The focus of this study is on young people who have chosen a profession related to photography or videography and where it is important to build a professional image using SNS. A bright, eye-catching, entertaining social networking identity is often a powerful sales tool for a product and a testament to its quality. Using a case study methodology, this article conducts an in-depth analysis of the Instagram accounts used by all young photography professionals of the Latvian College of Culture involved in the study. The obtained data are analyzed from the perspective of professional identity, thinking about how future photographers and videographers, whose specifics of work require them to create their own public image, are informed about FoMO risks and opportunities to overcome them.