Definition:
Engagement metrics are quantitative measures used to track how users interact with content, platforms, or products, such as likes, clicks, shares, watch time, or comments.
Usage Context:
Seen in social media platforms, creator dashboards, advertising analytics, content moderation decisions, and performance reporting.
Critical Note:
Engagement metrics are often treated as proxies for value or relevance. In practice, they prioritise attention capture over meaning, incentivise emotional manipulation, and reshape behaviour to satisfy algorithms rather than human needs.
Related Terms:
Attention Economy, Vanity Metrics, Engagement, Algorithmic Visibility Pressure, Behavioural Bias Exploitation