Read the passage and choose the letter (A, B, C or D) to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
All your friends have gone to a party. You can't go because you have homework, but you can't stop checking your phone. Have you ever been in this situation? Then perhaps you have FOMO - Fear of Missing Out.
"Sometimes I see a picture of some friends online," explains Lucas, 16. "They're doing something amazing, like surfing or snorkeling. It makes me unhappy. My friends are having fun and I'm not!"
About 25% of teenagers say that they get this feeling, but there's another, far better feeling:
JOMO - the joy of missing out!
Grace, 18, has learned to feel JOMO. "In the past, I never stayed in. But I wasn't in control of my life, and other people were organizing it for me! When I finally understood this, I made changes. Now, I only go out occasionally and spend more time on my interests. I'm writing my own novel, and I've never felt happier!"
Dr. Stella Taylor, a psychologist, says social media makes FOMO worse. "It makes other people's lives interesting and our own lives feel boring," she says. So how can we learn to feel JOMO?
"Remember that you are in control of your life," says Dr. Taylor. "When you're older, you won't remember those boring parties. You'll think about the time you wasted! With JOMO, you'll have more time for hobbies you enjoy, and you'll feel much happier!"
Right! It's time to put down your phone and find your pajamas. How about some TV?
