As co-authors of the “Sustaining Resilience” series, we’ve introduced our readers to the why and the how of doing just that, using the metaphor of four energy tanks. After all, when we attend to our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy, we’re able to better manage the hiccups and hurricanes of life. Then we added a fifth tank: social energy.

In this digital age, when emojis often replace words, and algorithms dictate visibility, we’re left wondering: To what extent does content still matter? How do these fleeting interactions impact both the creator(s) and the readers?

The Emperor’s New Clothes: Content vs. Quick Clicks

In our quest for meaningful engagement, we often find ourselves in a paradoxical situation reminiscent of the Danish folktale The Emperor’s New Clothes. We craft thoughtful articles with the intention of sparking conversations and learning about readers’ genuine opinions and experiences. While we are excited and gratified to see emojis and likes, it does leave us questioning whether our message truly resonates.

As influencers of a perhaps bygone era, we yearn for authentic dialogue. We want our readers to take the time to absorb, reflect, and respond thoughtfully. But in a world where algorithms favor quick interactions, are we fighting an uphill battle?

The Energy Exchange: From ‘I’ to ‘We’

The impact of social media interactions on our social energy is multifaceted:

For the Author:

• A flood of likes can be initially uplifting, providing a dopamine rush that boosts our mood.
• However, this happiness is often short-lived. The joy lasts only as long as the likes keep coming in.
• Comments that don’t relate to the article’s content can lead to self-doubt. We question our ability to communicate effectively or whether the reader even engaged with our work.

For the Reader:

• The ease of using emojis or quick likes can create a false sense of engagement, potentially dulling our ability to be truly present and thoughtful in our interactions.
• This “dulling” effect can erode our frequency and presence, making it challenging to engage in meaningful dialogue.

For the Community:

• The pursuit of likes and shares can lead to a “compare and despair” phenomenon, where individuals measure their worth against others’ perceived successes on social media.
• This dynamic can affect real-world relationships, as people feel pressure to maintain their online status.

Steps To Consider Taking to Reclaim Authenticity in the Age of Algorithms

While algorithms play a significant role in content visibility, we mustn’t lose sight of the value of authentic engagement. Therefore, as contributors, we are curious to what extent the below list captures you as a reader:

1. Encouraging thoughtful responses: We’ll pose thought-provoking questions at the ends of our articles to stimulate deeper engagement.
2. Educating our audience: We’ll help our readers understand the importance of meaningful interactions and how they contribute to a richer online community.
3. Valuing quality over quantity: We’ll focus on creating content that resonates with our core audience, even if it means fewer but more meaningful interactions.
4. Engaging authentically: We’ll respond to comments that show genuine engagement, fostering a culture of thoughtful dialogue.
5. Exploring diverse platforms: We’ll consider using platforms that prioritize in-depth discussions and community building over quick interactions.

Playing with New Ways to Engage

We recognize that people engage differently online, so we’re inviting you to consider which of the following options could be your way of interacting with an article in the future:

1. Share a reflection to support your emoji: Next time you like a post, try leaving a comment that shares how it resonated with you.
2. Ask a question instead of scrolling past: If something sparks your curiosity, engage by asking a question to deepen the conversation.

We recognize that there may be some reluctance to share in comment form. The truth is, an emoji acknowledges a post was seen. However, a question, comment or insight discloses more about the ‘sharer’. This may be scary to do in a public medium where rich communication can not truly occur.

What is rich communication? It describes the different dimensions of communication, of which, words convey the least meaning according to the Mehrabian Rule. “Now don’t get us wrong, as our mentor Judith E. Glaser used to say “Words create worlds” and we, ourselves know this to be true. Simultaneously, our body language and tone of voice add to the words we choose and to how we feel and experience the exchange. Our body language and our tone communicate much louder than words. In social media emojis can be used to replace missing body language and tone and amplify our words or replace the latter entirely.

Building Social Energy Through Community

Despite a certain lack of (media) richness, social media can offer an opportunity to fuel collective social energy when we prioritize genuine interactions over performative ones. By embracing the principles of intentionality and community, we can ensure that our digital exchanges enrich our lives rather than deplete them. It starts with asking ourselves and each other: How can we make this space one of true connection?

When we asked each other this very question, we recognized that greater perspective would be helpful. That is when the idea of a survey was born. We’ve collected over 50 perspectives and will consider the findings of this survey and how to share them with you, dear readers. And of course, we will work together to navigate best practices to apply the lessons to our lives. Ute and Deborah continue to maintain Gandhi’s sentiment of “Be the change you want to see.” So stay tuned for more insights!

In the end, it’s not about playing the algorithm but about fostering a community where ideas are shared, get debated, and then evolve. Let’s reclaim the power of thoughtful engagement, one meaningful interaction at a time.

And now we invite you to join the conversation: What is one way you can make your social media interactions more intentional and energizing today?