FOMO-driven binge-scrolling and eudaimonic wellbeing

To reduce their fear-of-missing-out, social media users may be lured into binge-scrolling short-form videos (e.g., reels). While platforms may cultivate users’ binge-scrolling behavior (e.g., to raise revenue), understanding of the impact of binge-scrolling on user wellbeing lags behind, exposing an important gap. Drawing on the Zeigarnik effect and dual-process theory, we propose user mindfulness as an antidote to FOMO-driven binge-scrolling by enabling users to better regulate their digital impulses. To explore these issues, we adopt a mixed-methods design. Study 1 employs qualitative interviews and a focus group to capture the psychological, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of binge-scrolling to develop a conceptual model. Study 2 empirically tests the model using survey data. The CB-SEM findings underscore the paradoxical role of FOMO in fueling binge-scrolling behavior on the one hand, while fostering loneliness and reducing eudaimonic well-being on the other. Importantly, user mindfulness emerges as a significant moderating factor that can disrupt this vicious cycle, creating healthier scrolling behavior. Overall, this research contributes novel insight to the dark side of binge-scrolling and offers actionable insights for scholars, policymakers, and platform designers seeking to balance the commercial benefits of scrolling and user well-being.