Getting To Know FOBO, A Term Among Gen Z That Can Disrupt Mental Health

JAKARTA - Recently, new terms have emerged among Generation Z or Gen Z, which can trigger mental health problems. The term is FOBO or Fear of a Bettr Option (scary of better choices).

FOBO is a form of modern anxiety that is often experienced by a person faced with too many choices. This makes them anxious because it is difficult to make decisions.

"This phenomenon is a sub-district that something better is coming, which makes us reluctant to commit to existing options," said Patrick McGinnis, a writer and originator of the term FOBO, quoted by Huffpost, on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

McGinnis calls that FOBO is a 'bad brother' of the term FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). FOMO encourages people to continue to follow trends and fear of being left behind from others, while FOBO causes anxiety in choosing between the many options available.

FOBO makes a person hesitate and delay decisions even for simple things, while FOMO tends to make someone impulsive in making decisions so as not to feel left behind.

"Whether it chooses food in a restaurant, determines a vacation destination, or even chooses a life partner, FOBO develops with a question, 'what if there's something better out there?'," he said.

Although on the one hand it can have a good impact, FOBO can also have a negative impact. When someone keeps delaying decisions because they want to find the best choice, they can lose the opportunity that lies ahead.

In the long term, this can cause anxiety, dissatisfaction, and even depression. FOBO can also erode confidence, like to delay important decisions, and interfere with mental health.

"This thinking can foster dissatisfaction and erode confidence, which in turn makes a person procrastinate and difficult to determine the direction in his life," said psychologist Patricia Dixon.

"In a relationship, this fear can hinder personal growth and connections with other people," he added.