Thanks for this. I have never followed people back reflexively, but if someone follows me I will read one of their stories and see if I want to invite their work onto my feed. I try to curate who I follow. With that said, I think my standard is a little lower than yours because I will follow someone after I read one interesting story. Also sometimes I will follow someone because they have a perspective that I don’t or can’t have. Like living in a different country or something. Occasionally I follow someone who has the opposite political views from me because I don’t want to live in an echo chamber. Anyway, blah blah blah- thanks for your essay