How FOMO Has Turned Social Media Flex Into A Commodity

In today’s day and age, an up-to-date ‘aesthetic’ social media life has become the ultimate status symbol. Platforms like Instagram are no longer just spaces for sharing moments; they represent an individual’s social currency. With the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) driving behaviour, a unique business called “Get Your Flex” has emerged, catering to people who want to appear as if they are living the most happening lives—without actually leaving their homes.

What is 'Get Your Flex'? Turning FOMO into a Business

“Get Your Flex” is a social media service designed to help people fake their participation at popular events and venues. Whether it’s a sold-out Diljit Dosanjh concert, a buzzing cafe, or an aesthetic bowling alley, the service provides Instagram users the chance to be tagged in authentic-looking Stories—at a small fee.

For as little as ₹99, people can pay to have their Instagram account tagged in event-based Stories shared by seemingly real Instagram profiles. This service capitalises on the intense FOMO culture where individuals feel pressure to showcase an exciting lifestyle online, even if it's not a reality.

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How the service works

The process is surprisingly professional and straightforward, as revealed by Bengaluru-based Instagram user, Anushka. Curious to explore this trend, she approached “Get Your Flex” as part of a social experiment.

Customers can pick events like concerts, trendy restaurants, or other venues. Each category comes with its own pricing, depending on popularity and demand. The service uses fake private Instagram accounts with “pretty people” as profile pictures—often male or female as per the customer’s choice. These accounts tag the user in Stories from the event, making it look like the person was genuinely there. Once tagged, customers can repost the Story to their own Instagram profile.

Anushka’s Experience: Honest Review Goes Viral

Anushka, who documented her experience in a viral Instagram video, shared a detailed breakdown of her encounter with “Get Your Flex.”

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She reached out to the service, requesting a tag from the Diljit Dosanjh concert in Bengaluru. To her surprise, the person handling the account was polite, prompt, and professional. The payment was completed via Google Pay gateway without any hassle. Shortly after, a fake Instagram account tagged her in a convincing Story from the concert.

Anushka’s verdict? While the service does deliver exactly what it promises, it also highlights how far people are willing to go to manufacture an “ideal” online image. Her video has garnered over 1.7 million views, sparking discussions about authenticity and FOMO-driven behaviour.

The Bigger Picture: Why Do People Use Services Like This?

The rise of services like “Get Your Flex” points to a deeper societal trend: the obsession with portraying perfection online.

• Social Pressure: Platforms like Instagram create a space where people feel judged based on their posts, stories, and overall digital footprint.

• Validation Culture: Likes, views, and comments act as digital validation, driving individuals to fabricate and fake experiences.

• Affordable: With services priced as low as ₹99, “faking it” has become financially accessible.

The Ethical Dilemma: Authenticity vs. Appearance

While “Get Your Flex” may seem harmless or amusing, it highlights the blurred lines between reality and social media. For many, social media is an escape, but curating fake experiences can contribute to unhealthy comparisons. Ethically, it raises questions about misleading followers and portraying false narratives that can perpetuate unattainable standards of living.

Addressing the Real Problem

While services like “Get Your Flex” may seem ethically questionable, they point to a deeper issue that needs attention: the fractured relationship people have with their own sense of self. The existence of such businesses reflects a societal longing to be everyone but ourselves—a desire so profound that individuals are willing to fabricate something as personal as an “experience.” This disconnect stems from a cycle of isolation, low self-worth, and a conflicted self-concept, all perpetuated, enabled, validated, invalidated, and reinforced by social media.

Social media platforms amplify this detachment, creating spaces where people’s worth feels tied to such illusions rather than authentic connections. To address the rise of such trends, it’s essential to tackle the root cause—this growing detachment from the self. Once individuals begin to reconnect with their real experiences, value their authenticity, and redefine self-worth outside of likes and tags, we can start to uncover the answers to what’s truly happening behind our screens and, more importantly, within ourselves.

Personal views expressed by the author are their own.