Scroll. Like. Exit. Sound familiar?

In our ongoing exploration of social energy, we’ve been spotlighting the subtle ways digital interaction impacts our well-being, especially in the social spaces where we spend so much of our in-between time. You log in with good intentions, just a quick check, maybe to support a friend or colleague, and 25 minutes later, you feel emotionally depleted… or oddly overstimulated… or caught in a strange buzz that doesn’t quite feel like connection.

That’s not just screen fatigue. That’s your neurochemistry talking.

When our social energy is depleted, we might feel mentally foggy, emotionally flat, or spiritually out of sync. When it’s charged up, we feel alert, grounded, and attuned. A genuine comment thread, a post that resonates, or even a shared moment in the feed can create a cascade of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and even endorphins, the same cocktail that powers a fulfilling conversation or the post glow of a real-life encounter with friends or business acquaintances (great community gathering).

Similarly to real-life encounters, on social media, how we engage and how others engage with us, makes all the difference. On social media, social energy is at work, too.

It’s not just about what you’re reading, it’s also about how you’re showing up.

Over time, we’ve noticed six common styles of interaction on social media. Each one influences not only your social energy but also your neurochemistry, and with that, your emotional experience.

Six Engagement Styles and how they could impact you – emotionally.

🔍 Observers: You scroll quietly, take it all in, but rarely interact. You stay informed, but may leave feeling invisible like you’re watching a party through the window. This style can lead to a feeling of unexpressed empathy and a sense of lingering “incompleteness”.

👏 Supporters: You drop a “like”, add an emoji, maybe share a post. You show up, and dip your toe into the water, but don’t dive in (yet). You are probably boosting dopamine in yourself and others, but emotionally this might not bring you full satisfaction.

💬 Commentators: You think, you feel, you write. You engage with nuance. You energize others, and often walk away feeling more alive, activating a rich mix of dopamine and oxytocin—the connection hormone.

🔁 Active Sharers: You amplify what resonates, helping ideas ripple through your network. You’re a force multiplier. Emotionally, this can spark purpose and a feeling of being part of something bigger. But without reflection or reciprocity, it may also feel transactional.

📝 Content Creators: You originate a post. You share your thoughts, reflections, or articles. You’re building the conversation but also risking emotional exposure. It’s a blend of empowerment and exposure as well as vulnerability and risk. Your brain releases dopamine on the front end, but can just as easily dip, if engagement falls flat.

🌐 Fully Immersed: You do it all, scroll, post, share, comment, react. At its best, this creates a rhythm of belonging and visibility. At its worst? Overextension. The emotional signature here is a yo-yo between inspiration and depletion, specially without clear boundaries.

None of these styles are inherently better or worse. But they do come with different energy dynamics. Understanding your style is the first step to managing your energy with intention.

What the Science Tells Us (and Why It Matters)

Studies confirm what we often feel but can’t explain:

• Passive scrolling (e.g., scrolling without interaction) tends to reduce well-being and could increase social comparison and feelings of loneliness.
• Active engagement, especially through meaningful comments and contributions could increase social connectedness, self-worth, and might even raise your dopamine levels.

The neurochemistry of social reward involves dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. Those neurotransmitters are linked to motivation, bonding, and mood regulation. The feedback loop is real, regardless of whether the interaction happens in real life or on social media: When you engage, you often invite engagement back, creating a mutual uplift.

But wait a second!? Is my engagement style connected with my personality!?

Introverts, Extraverts, and the Myth of “Right” Engagement

Sure, introverts may prefer to reflect before replying. Extraverts might post spontaneously or comment quickly. But both can burn out if they’re not engaging intentionally.

What matters isn’t how fast or often you respond; it’s why and how fully you show up.

Intentionality is the real superpower here. And even small shifts can create big changes in your experience.

Forget impressions and engagement rates for a second. Try this instead:

• What engagement style leaves you feeling most aligned?
• Where do you actually feel connection?
• Are you using social media or are you letting it use you?

The goal isn’t to perform. It’s to participate with presence.

You can either fuel connection or drain your capacity so choose with intention!

This week, try one new thing:

• Move from scrolling to to supporting.
• Turn one reaction into a into a comment.
• DM someone who inspired you, even if just to say “thank you”.

Every micro-action has ripple effects. And you might be surprised how energizing it feels to be just a bit more visible. Because somewhere on the other side of that comment, that share, that saved post, there is another human being whose social energy just got a little brighter. And maybe… so did yours.

You made it to the end. That tells us something: You’re ready to engage differently. Thoughtfully. Intentionally— refilling rather than draining your social energy.