FOMO

Fomo is word defined as "Fear Of Missing Out". Fomo essentially has always existed in one way or another through human history, and has consequently caused terrible problems for humanity as a whole. I want to talk especifically about mercantilised FOMO in a world dominated by quick dopamine & a constant feeling of pressure to keep up with fashion.

"The Dutch Tulip Crisis" for example, was an economic crisis that overtook the Netherlands, then a powerful and wealthy seafaring empire, as the rich began buying & investing into the then newly brought Tulips, leading to a massive price increase for tulips from 1634 to 1637, when they collapsed. 

Back then, this event didn't cause much more than laughter, as It was seen as a foolish reaction to the newly-found wealth of the Low Countries. But later on, & especially today, this event has gained I believe, great importance as it shows the very first mercantile expression of FOMO.

Nowadays, this historical event has repeated many times over in front of our eyes, not anymore with such natural things such as flowers, but with massivelty produced novelty items sold to us by influencers online as a show of status. Labubus, Stanley Cups, Dubai Chocolate, Lotus Biscuits (a phenomena I believe only affecting my home country Spain), or even just old regular beauty products.

These "trends" are no longer mere results of a human's desire to fit into a perfectionist standard, like the Tulips previously mentioned, but are sistematically used by greedy corporations & individuals to draw more money out of us consumers for products we just don't need. 

I can't say the olden times were better, after all, I AM gay, but if I've got to say one good thing about the pre-internet and social media times, is that at least they weren't as bombarded all the time by such structured endevours. One just didn't know as much about the "pop culture fashion", I'd even say, people in the past were more authentic in their desires and actions, but basically because not everyone had the money to buy trashy magazines every day.