Just go with this for a moment:
 
We hold these #engagements to be self-evident, that all #engagements are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are #engagement, #engagement and #moreengagement.–That to secure these rights, #engagements are instituted among Men, deriving their just #engagements from the consent of the #engaged, –That whenever any Form of #engagement becomes destructive of these #engagements, it is the Right of the [brands/advertisers/publishers/viral video creators/social agencies/engagement metrics vendors] to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new #engagement, laying its foundation on such #engagement and organizing its #engagement in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their #engagement. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that #engagements long established should not be changed for light and transient #engagements; and accordingly all #engagement hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to #share, while #engagements are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the #engagements to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of #engagements, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute #engagement, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such #engagement, and to provide new Guards for their future #engagement.
 
Signed,
The #Engaged
 
There’s this word (I’m not saying which) that has saturated digital discourse. It apparently means all things to all people, though no two people agree entirely on what it is, or why it’s suddenly so important. But there it is. Unavoidable. Calling attention to itself.
 
Take just about any digital media presentation and replace any noun with #engagement and – oddly, frighteningly – the sentence will still somehow make sense to audiences.
#ReplaceWithEngagement could be a meme.
 
To anyone who cares about truth and understanding, that’s a pitiable state of affairs.
 
For that reason, Tina Moffett, Samantha Merlivat and I are all working on a piece of research to – if not kill the beast – tie it down, to the ground, with lanyards from media conferences, and torture it until it begs for mercy a bit, crawls into a box and agrees to live there for a long, long time.
 
If you happen to have any remarkable insights or experiences on this particular beast, do share. For #engagement’s sake.