fear of other people's opinions

Meaning

Often abbreviated as FOPO, this term refers to an excessive and paralyzing concern about what others think of you. It is a modern slang concept coined by psychologists to describe how social media and constant connectivity amplify our natural desire for social conformity, often stopping us from taking risks or being authentic.

Examples

• Her fear of other people's opinions kept her from starting her own YouTube channel for years.

  Her fear of other people's opinions kept her from starting her own YouTube channel for years.

• If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to overcome your fear of other people's opinions.

  If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to overcome your fear of other people's opinions.

• Social media really feeds into our fear of other people's opinions, making us obsess over every comment.

  Social media really feeds into our fear of other people's opinions, making us obsess over every comment.

• He realized that his career choices were entirely driven by a deep-seated fear of other people's opinions.

  He realized that his career choices were entirely driven by a deep-seated fear of other people's opinions.

• Once you let go of the fear of other people's opinions, you feel a massive sense of personal freedom.

  Once you let go of the fear of other people's opinions, you feel a massive sense of personal freedom.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have a fear of other people's opinion.

  ✓ I have a fear of other people's opinions.

  'Opinions' must be plural because you are worried about the various thoughts and judgments of multiple people, not just one single opinion.

• ✗ She is fear of other people's opinions.

  ✓ She has a fear of other people's opinions.

  'Fear' is a noun in this phrase, so you must use the verb 'have' rather than 'be'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Living with a constant ___ can prevent you from expressing your true self.

  💡 The full phrase for FOPO.

  Show answer

  fear of other people's opinions

• She finally published her poetry book, conquering her ___.

  💡 Anxiety about what others might say or think.

  Show answer

  fear of other people's opinions