The impact of FOMO and hyperplanning on Generation Z's event experience

Abstract

This study explores how Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and hyperplanning shape Generation Z’s lived experiences and enjoyment of events. Adopting a qualitative, phenomenological approach, the research aims not to measure the prevalence of FOMO, but to understand how it emerges, how it influences event planning behaviours, and how these processes affect subjective enjoyment. Data were collected through sixteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Generation Z participants who had attended festivals or social events. Interviews were conducted online and face-to-face, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal four central themes: (1) social and digital pressures as drivers of hyperplanning, (2) the ambivalent role of planning in shaping anticipation and anxiety, (3) qualitative differences between participants with and without FOMO, and (4) perceived responsibilities of event organizers in managing expectations. The study contributes to event and leisure research by offering an in-depth qualitative understanding of how emotional, cognitive, and social dynamics converge in the construction of event enjoyment among Generation Z.