Query:
And this is in all sincerity. I left the bird site in 2018, and never used it much before that.

What is the value of a “follow”? Why is the # of followers so important?
I understand if you’re doing marketing, or selling stuff. But why for normal people?

It doesn’t make sense to me.

When I walk into a bookstore, I pay zero attention to the best seller shelf. I ignore the loud flashy covers. Yes I enjoy discovery. But I do that by reading, or asking staff.