The (Temporary) End of FOMO

Follow Us Get the newsletter Hey everyone, it's Sarah Frier. Imagine what it would usually feel like to sit at home on your couch, scrolling through social-media posts. You would see photos of other people's life milestones, like weddings and birthday parties, that you weren't a part of. You'd see vacations to places you would really rather be, if you didn't have to go to work tomorrow. You'd see the couple that can somehow always afford to go out for a fancy meal, enjoying the hottest new restaurant. Maybe you'd make similar plans, inspired, or maybe you'd feel depressed about doing nothing worth photographing. But now, in much of the world, people are staying on their couches by necessity. Fear of missing out (#FOMO) has been replaced with fear of spreading disease. Going out and having fun, like Florida's spring break revelers, incites public shaming for your irresponsible behavior. That dynamic has completely changed the way we use Instagram and Facebook. Social media has become, for the first time, truly necessary, as a digital version of physical interactions that aren't allowed anymore. All of Facebook Inc.'s properties, including Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, have seen dramatic spikes in activity. This isn't passive couch scrolling -- it's users actively choosing to engage with others. Messaging activity in affected countries has spiked 50%, Facebook said. In Italy, Instagram and Facebook live video views doubled in one week, and calls between groups of people were up 1,000% during the last month. Some of that surge comes with a collective sense of fear and anxiety, or a need to be updated on matters of life and death. But there are still bright spots. In my own feed, I'm seeing friends filming their stovetop cooking experiments and at-home workouts. People are tuning into live yoga sessions and couch concerts, as well as free art classes and guitar lessons. Nobody has anything to show off (except, on rare occasion, a very nice house to retreat to), so there is little jealousy, and more solidarity. My colleague Kurt Wagner and I were talking about the implications for life online after the virus subsides. We've heard companies such as Twitter Inc. and Facebook talk for years about the way their services could be fixed to improve the negative impact on mental health. But the moves fall short -- like an option to see how much time you spend on Instagram, which is impossible for most people to find. Perhaps this public health disaster has shown the companies how users can behave when they seek genuine connection, rather than strive for social status. The companies could use these signals to build healthier versions of their products. --Sarah Frier If you read one thing While U.S. legislators crafted the $2 trillion stimulus bill, executives from gig economy companies were lobbying hard to get relief for the drivers, couriers and home-rental hosts who are the lifeblood of these businesses. Gig workers, who generally don't get health insurance or guaranteed income from companies, have been particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. Uber CEO Dara Khowsrowshahi has spoken to 10 members of Congress, and the three Airbnb co-founders contacted more than a dozen politicians.   Sponsored by Divvy Manage risk and better control your company expenses—for free. Divvy is the expense management platform changing the way companies spend money. No more expense reports, overcharging, or employee fraud. Divvy will save you thousands. See how Divvy helps you have more peace of mind in uncertain times.   And here's what you need to know in global technology news Designer face masks, the new symbol of coronavirus-era inequality, are going for $200 a pop online.  Amazon extended the closure of a warehouse for apparel returns after three workers there tested positive for Covid-19.  Facebook said on Wednesday that it had removed a network of white supremacist accounts. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Fully Charged newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022