Eyes up commuting: More FOFO* than FOMO (*Fear of Falling Off!)

Scrolling a nanosecond after waking and then rechecking social media feeds constantly is not only odd, but also a recognised, and growing, 21st century psychological phenomenon apparently: FOMO.

The Fear of Missing Out dominates lives, leading to deep unhappiness and an unhealthy attachment to gadgets. Set down the device and anxiety lands – it seems – for an entranced, nervous generation.

It may be that it is just that, generational. Not something generally suffered by those of us who enjoyed our teens, twenties and thirties in the twentieth century. But I wonder if it may also be something to do with place? Specifically a place with something to see?

Non-scientific casual observation in a variety of locations in recent weeks has confirmed several north-south constants, starting with the certainty that there is no downward-fixated FOMO at Druridge Bay, Northumberland. The county that rightly claims the title of England’s Best Kept Secret also boasts some of its best beaches. A brisk Sunday stroll along Druridge Bay involves plenty of FIDO but no obvious FOMO. All around, in fact, they’re doing the HOCO – Horizon Or Castle Observation looking up, gazing out to sea, or squinting at magnificent silhouettes dominating the coast. Days later it’s the same at Bassenthwaite and Ingleton. More people are around and there’s more traffic, but the eyes are all up; a universal lightness to the look; they’re taking in what they see. In the present, seemingly in their place. Whisper it, perhaps they’re happy? Some head to water or paths; some are already on them. All are eyes up, non-dull down. They are, in other words, engaged.

Fast forward to London. The City. It’s Aldgate, midweek, 8:30 am, and there’s a crossing by the Tube. Three deep and, I’m certain, all pedestrians will be watching for Green to pause the constant traffic of Commercial Road. Nope. No interest in looking up for the cue to Go. The universal fixation is D for Down, the Device. A throng of 20-25 pedestrians with every pair of eyes fixedly locked down.

Hours later, and the Euston concourse where there is every reason to look up – if you want to find your train. But not everyone is…perhaps half are looking at the information boards, while the rest are transfixed by handhelds. All look down. More FOMO? Less trains. Ten minutes’ non-scientific observation and the proportion rises to three in four of people passing through. It’s an extraordinary achievement, given the surging cross-currents of pedestrians. Only one obvious collision as the finely tuned antennae of two-downcast pairs of eyes fail to pick colliding diagonal routes. Swift mumbled apologies follow; they both press on, eyes swiftly downcast once more. Amazing that there were not more collisions, which got me thinking if we’re seeing an evolutionary step, absorbing the stunning skills of a starling murmuration? Perhaps not. It’d mean more focus, more looking up…and less fear.