We need to talk.
No, not about Epstein or the cost of eggs.
Yeah, you.
The one creeping through posts like Batman in the shadows of Gotham, lurking but never speaking.
You’re everywhere. You’re reading posts. You’re nodding. You’re laughing at memes in your head. You’re even saving quotes to screenshot later.
But when it comes time to engage — to like, comment, share — you vanish Aaron Judge in the playoffs.
And listen, I get it. Maybe you’re shy.
Maybe you don’t want your boss to know you just reacted with a fire emoji to someone’s motivational post about quitting their job.
Or maybe you think, “My little comment won’t matter.”
But here’s the thing: your engagement is the oxygen that keeps social content alive. Without it, creators (like me, writing this very article) are basically screaming into a pillow and hoping someone hears it through the feathers.
Imagine you’re at a party. Everyone’s chatting, laughing, passing around snacks. And then there’s you, standing in the corner like a Wi-Fi signal that doesn’t quite connect.
People look over like, “Are they okay? Are they enjoying themselves? Should we call someone?”
That’s what silent scrolling looks like online. We see you peek in, but then you ghost us faster than a free trial cancellation email.
People act like engagement costs money.
Bro, a “like” is literally a digital head nod. A comment is just you saying, “Hey, I exist. I see you.”
It’s cheaper than coffee. It burns fewer calories than blinking. Yet some of y’all clutch your engagement tighter than a grandma clutching her pearls at a Sexyy Red concert.
If you can double-tap on your friend’s vacation pic in Bali, you can drop a “🔥” under someone’s post that made you think.
If you can argue about LeBron vs. Jordan for three paragraphs in a sports thread, you can type “Great point” under an article that just sharpened your perspective.
Look, nobody’s begging you to write essays in the comments. But do you know how many creators are out here posting their heart and soul, wondering if it’s landing with anyone?
When you scroll past in silence, you’re basically watching someone’s performance at open mic night and walking out without clapping. Brutal.
We don’t need a standing ovation. Sometimes a little “👏🏾👏🏾” is enough.
Here’s the funny part: your one tiny comment can start a chain reaction. Someone else sees it, joins in, and boom — the post now has a life of its own.
It’s like when one person starts clapping in a movie theater and suddenly the whole audience is applauding like they’re at the Oscars. Be that person. Be the clapper.
If you’re reading this, consider it your permission slip to step out of the shadows.
Stop acting like a social media ninja who only observes. Speak up. Drop a like. Share something.
Because here’s the truth: scrolling in silence doesn’t help anyone. Not you, not the creator, not the algorithm gods who are clearly judging us all.
And let’s be honest — you’ve got opinions. You’ve got thoughts. You probably even have jokes that are funnier than this article. So why are you hiding them like a family recipe?
Engage — don’t scroll in silence. It doesn’t just make social media better. It makes it social.
So next time you catch yourself lurking, remember: nobody ever built connections by being invisible. Hit that like. Drop that comment. Say something.
Because honestly? The shadows are overrated.