Objective  To explore the influence of the fear of missing on phubbing, the mediating effect of mobile phone addiction and the regulating effect of self-control. Methods  A survey of 401 college students in Henan Province was conducted by using the fear of failure scale, phubbing scale, mobile phone addiction scale, and self-control scale. Results Phubbing was positively correlated with missing fear and mobile phone addiction, and negatively correlated with self-control. The fear of missing out was positively associated with phone addiction. The direct prediction effect of missing fear on phubbing was significant. After the intermediary of mobile phone addiction was added, missing fear could still be significantly predicted, that is, mobile phone addiction had a significant mediating effect between missing fear and phubbing. Self-control regulated the direct effect of missing fear and phubbing and the latter half of the intermediary path. Conclusion  The fear of missing out can indirectly influence the phubbing through mobile phone addiction. Self-control plays a regulating role in the behaviors of missing fear and phubbing and in the behaviors of phone addiction and phubbing.