In today’s world, everyone seems to want change. People voice their frustrations on social media, complain about the state of the world, and talk about how “something needs to be done.” But here’s the reality: very few are actually willing to put in the work to make that change happen, even when the effort is as simple as reading a damn article.
As someone who writes about important topics that aim to spark conversation and inspire change, I have a front-row seat to this paradox. Through special software that tracks activity on my blog, I can see what readers do. And what I’ve found is disheartening—most people just click the like button without even reading the article. Some will open the page, scroll down, and then click like, as if to say, “I’ve done my part.” But have they? The stats show otherwise.
The Illusion of Engagement
It’s easy to think that a like or a quick scroll-through means people are engaged. But the truth is, that kind of engagement is hollow. These individuals may not realize it, but they leave digital footprints behind—footprints that reveal how they interact with content. And in most cases, they’re just passing through, offering a superficial nod to something they haven’t actually absorbed. This happens everywhere, even on platforms like Medium.
It’s as if people are only out for themselves, trying to show they’ve “engaged” without actually taking the time to learn or reflect on what’s been shared. They may want change, but they’re not willing to invest even a few minutes to read something that could inform or inspire that change.
This graph showing the engagement breakdown on our blog articles, illustrating the percentages of people who like without reading, scroll through, and genuine readers.
Real Change Requires Real Effort
What’s happening here is a reflection of a broader problem in society. People want change, but they want it without effort. They want the world to be different, but they’re not willing to do the simplest things—like read an article—to understand how to contribute to that change. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s one that we need to confront head-on.
True engagement requires more than a like button. It requires thought, reflection, and a willingness to be informed. The few who genuinely read and engage with my content? Those are the people I care about. They’re the ones who actually want to see things improve and are willing to do the work, no matter how small, to contribute to that shift.
The Digital Footprint You Leave Behind
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the internet is a vast space, but it’s also a space where your actions leave behind a trail. Every click, scroll, and like is part of your digital footprint. For those of us who run blogs, we know who is genuinely engaging and who is simply passing through. Our software here at The Realist Juggernaut is more sophisticated than just regular blog stats, allowing us to see more detailed user behavior. But what’s even more alarming is the reality that big tech giants have software far more advanced than what we use. They track everything we can—and much more.
These tech giants have access to incredible amounts of data, and they use it not just to track engagement but to build deeply detailed behavioral profiles. While our software at The Realist Juggernaut can track important stats like how long someone stays on a page, how they scroll, and even what they choose to skip, big tech takes this a step further—way further. Their software collects far more data than we do. They track mouse movements, eye-tracking data from certain devices, heatmaps showing exactly where users focus their attention, and even the speed at which they scroll or type. They can predict not just what you’re interested in, but why you’re interested, building psychological profiles that tell them more about you than you’d ever imagine.
For those who engage less, big tech’s algorithms go into action, feeding drama and misinformation to keep these users hooked. Their goal is simple: keep you scrolling, clicking, and reacting, even if it means bombarding you with shallow, emotionally charged content designed to provoke. The more time you spend engaging with low-effort content, the more they can manipulate your behavior.
It’s a game of control, and most people don’t even realize they’re a part of it. What big tech knows about your habits is far more detailed than you might think. But here’s the kicker—they’re using that information against you.
The Power of the 33%: Reaching Beyond the Numbers
At first glance, 33% engagement might seem low—just a fraction of the total audience. But here’s the thing: that 33% represents the real readers, the ones who engage meaningfully with content. And while their numbers may be smaller, their impact is much greater. Why? Because these are the people who will share, discuss, and spread the message. They’re the ones who tell others about what they’ve read, sparking conversations that reach far beyond the initial post.
In today’s world of algorithms and digital manipulation, word-of-mouth remains one of the most powerful tools for spreading information. Those who genuinely read and care about the content don’t just keep it to themselves—they share it in ways that big tech can’t control. That’s how true engagement leads to real change. So while 33% might seem like a small number, in the long run, their influence far exceeds the surface-level stats. They’re the ones who will help spread the truth when the rest are just scrolling.
For the Real Readers: You Are the Future
At the end of the day, I’m not here to please everyone. The real readers, the ones who take the time to absorb the information, reflect on it, and engage thoughtfully—those are the people I care about. Because they’re the ones who understand that change doesn’t happen with surface-level engagement. It happens when you’re willing to do the work, even if that work starts with reading an article.
So, to the 33% who actually read: you are the future. You’re the ones who will push society forward, even when it feels like the world around you is stuck in place. Your effort, no matter how small it may seem, is a step toward the change we all need.
Thank You!
Thank you for taking the time to not only read but to truly engage with the content. Your commitment to understanding and sharing the truth is what makes a difference. We see you, we appreciate you, and together, we can create the change that’s needed. Your support means everything to us, and we’re grateful to have you as part of this journey.
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If I had 33% engagement from my followers, I’d be ecstatic.
Thanks for your comment! 😎 I totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s definitely not easy to get that kind of engagement, and I’m grateful for the support we’ve received. It’s tough out there with all the algorithms and constant changes. I hope you’re able to find the engagement you’re looking for too—it’s all about persistence and staying true to your message!
It’s frightening how much we’re being controlled and manipulated by the big guys at the top, and fighting back seems so difficult. I’ll admit that sometimes I will click on a post after a fast scroll through – it’s more about not having the time to read properly right then but wanting to show solidarity. We’re all time-poor in this busy age. I try to read, relate and comment whenever I can though. 🙂
Thank you for your honesty, Laura, and for sharing your perspective. It really is frightening how much control those at the top have, and you’re right—it can feel like a constant uphill battle to push back. I completely understand what you mean about being “time-poor.” Life moves so fast these days, and it’s tough to find the time to fully dive into everything we’d like to.
That being said, your effort to read, relate, and comment when you can is much appreciated—it’s those moments of real engagement that make a difference. 🙂 Solidarity is always welcome, and I think it’s important we all support one another in any way we can. Thanks again for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts! 😎
And thanks for your understanding. I could spend all day reading and responding to the blog posts I like – but failing that I do the best I can. Have a good weekend. 😊
You’re welcome, and thank you! I totally understand—there’s only so much time in the day, and it’s impossible to catch everything. I really appreciate you taking the time to engage as much as you do. Hope you have a great weekend as well! 😎
Very nice, John. I feel like I live at the antithesis of like “stats and interaction.” You get used to reading Linux after so many years and the numbers dwindle and red red yay yay graphs. Most of my readers aren’t from WP with Logins, at that .. so I don’t get likes or comments really much. Except for likewise accounts and platforms that take a gentle nod of consideration for sticking around.
I left Social Media recently for Work-Related Reasons and shifting in how I handle departments for my IT work. Back to Bases, so I can’t hold em but moderated or wrote or sponsored. It usually looked like graphic design-stats-traffic-+marketing outreach for me or I write and send in an article and like Mayyybeee I’ll get an outtake messages to catch up to see how it performed. Usually like a brisk-thanks for the work and it’s over. ( I know how the Medium stuff goes too. Solidarity on that 😮💨🤝🏼)
So I am at this crossroads of professional feedback not related to the platform I use and not having much of a relationship with commenting on my site. Even formerly, I’d go to theirs. I wouldn’t see a lot of interaction on my blog.
It was new and a different time but not my first rodeo. (Plus, I think it’s better to think of audiences in a venn-diagram aspect instead of like an “‘archetype-wordle-cloud'” that’s how I’d put it in my doctorate program (when crazed and berated loyalty fandoms started uprising in the interwebs in nerd-lowkey.). Like I’m not outcasted out here and I don’t not relate to the creator nor publisher of the content but Ive gotten to understand some weird fan bases for works I’ve written or was on a staff-team. Especially anime, comedy, and adult animation since it’s meant to be a little corrosive in a satirisric way. (Wrapped Up: my page is a different rating than most. It’s black-background for a reason 😎🏜️🗞️ (thompson shout-out bc I notice that a lot lingering in your work Im gonna say that here, but it’s incredibly cordial how you/everyone does it. Love it 👌🏼))
At that, aside from poetry and prose and all-around creative nonfiction work. Getting into the more blogging/personal sides to me..not “crafted?” I never know what right word to describe it even as a writer.
A more personal lens,
With no rhyme scheme.
I put it at that 😅😄.
And I felt more nervous to dip my toes into columnist work or op-ed type qualities to qualities. Which, I really love. That was a big part of my schoolwork after grad school and in the marine corp. Typing up Abstracts, was the best night time writing for me for years. Then the whirlwind and I need poetry. Not really a want for me.
So I take the simple like and feel acknowledged. But then I get accounts or spam or folk that seem bot-tentenacious so-to-say for lingo liking a piece of work. And idk what to do there. Blogs that don’t stand for what I believe in and they like my work. Worse than being an Animation Writer.
And I don’t know what to do with it. I treated myself to an off day for a day and a half that feels like 2 almost 3. Writer’s Lament but good thing to point out. I don’t think I’d have the heart to see the detail in minuteia about my page.
The first time I saw it local I walked into a frozen yogurt shop and there was a group of highschoolers sitting at the tables and this kid like whispered and said “that’s her!” And I saw the logo. And I just got frozen yogurt and a really tasty burger after and just recently got out the hospital and off a draft work project for recruitment.
At least my IT work works for this and I know a lot more people interested locally in pursuing Cyber Securities work and education through many routes of pursuit. Civilian or Military, and freelance especially which is awesome!! Sometimes notably because of my work and they mention in notes. Marine-y type dialects of communication so no one blushes out of respect for looking up to another haha 😆😄☺️
Ya win some ya lose some. But sometimes I see locals on WordPress and it feels uncanny.
I just treat myself as the least liked person in the room and stay quiet and eventually someone laughs and I know they’re a writer or marine too. Which is a lot of em where I live, uncannily.
I try to remind myself what makes me feel good in my work and what is healthy for myself + and my career (that doesn’t forfeit the other) doesn’t have to be what I was taught to know what success is. Or working for huge multimedia conglomerates on a set or in a office isn’t success. And just bc I’ve done that before doesn’t mean I’m a sellout, it was a long time ago really and there wasn’t much of us around working in electronics or really anything to do with technology.
Then I could rabbit hole that forever but I do get happy when it’s like an event or bday and someone asks me to take a pic, or people or the food. And it’s obvious I have professional hands and angle and it stands out amongst all the pics. Idk why I hang onto that, or ordering coffee for someone else. Anyone could do it, but I do those really well and they have a lot more meaning than it may seem to how its been fundamental to my career to do those things: you’re doing great job. The Realist 😆👈🏼 that’s cool 😎
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences—it sounds like you’ve been through quite the journey, and I find it very interesting, both in your career and creative pursuits. I can definitely relate to what you said about engagement and stats; sometimes, it feels like the numbers don’t quite capture the depth of the work or the true connection with the audience. It’s interesting how you mention the contrast between working for larger companies and finding fulfillment in the smaller, more personal moments—like taking a great photo or ordering coffee for someone. Those things may seem small, but they often hold the most meaning.
It’s also refreshing to hear your perspective on interacting with different kinds of audiences, and how you’re navigating those dynamics. As creators, we all experience that tension between wanting genuine connection and dealing with the more superficial aspects of engagement, like bots or people who don’t share the same values. It’s a tricky balance, but I think staying true to what feels authentic is always the best path forward.
And by the way, I love your reference to “The Realist” 😆—appreciate the shout-out! Sounds like you’re handling things with a grounded, thoughtful approach, which is always admirable. It’s always good hearing from you, Sam. Keep doing what you’re doing, and thanks again for taking the time to comment. I hope you have a great night. 😎