Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention

Vahit Oğuz Kiper

doi:10.24288/jttr.1793457

Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention

Abstract

The increasing influence of social media on travel behavior highlights the need to understand its underlying psychological mechanisms in contemporary tourism. This study examines the relationships among Social Media Intensity (SMI), Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and Impulsive Travel Intention (ITI) to explain how digital engagement shapes travel decisions. Using survey data collected from a diverse sample, the study employs correlation analysis, mediation testing, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The results reveal significant positive relationships among the variables and confirm FOMO's mediating role in the SMI–ITI relationship. Additionally, gender and education level do not significantly moderate these effects, indicating a broadly consistent impact across demographic groups. The findings offer practical implications for tourism marketers by emphasizing FOMO-based strategies and suggesting directions for future research on cultural and longitudinal dynamics.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

There is no conflict of interest.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Consumer Behaviour

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Vahit Oğuz Kiper ^*
0000-0001-5558-2341
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 22, 2026

Submission Date

September 29, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1793457

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA45BF88BZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kiper, V. O. (2026). Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, 12(1), 13-21. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1793457

AMA

1.Kiper VO. Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;12(1):13-21. doi:10.24288/jttr.1793457

Chicago

Kiper, Vahit Oğuz. 2026. “Digital Urgency in Tourism: The Interplay of Social Media Intensity, Fear of Missing Out, and Impulsive Travel Intention”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12 (1): 13-21. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1793457.

EndNote

Kiper VO (March 1, 2026) Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12 1 13–21.

IEEE

[1]V. O. Kiper, “Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention”, Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 13–21, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.24288/jttr.1793457.

ISNAD

Kiper, Vahit Oğuz. “Digital Urgency in Tourism: The Interplay of Social Media Intensity, Fear of Missing Out, and Impulsive Travel Intention”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research 12/1 (March 1, 2026): 13-21. https://doi.org/10.24288/jttr.1793457.

JAMA

1.Kiper VO. Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026;12:13–21.

MLA

Kiper, Vahit Oğuz. “Digital Urgency in Tourism: The Interplay of Social Media Intensity, Fear of Missing Out, and Impulsive Travel Intention”. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research, vol. 12, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 13-21, doi:10.24288/jttr.1793457.

Vancouver

1.Vahit Oğuz Kiper. Digital urgency in tourism: The interplay of social media intensity, fear of missing out, and impulsive travel intention. Journal of Tourism Theory and Research. 2026 Mar. 1;12(1):13-21. doi:10.24288/jttr.1793457