Follower count/list information, for anyone unaware & since this seems to be a topic today:
- Follow lists for each individual are saved to many relays but not every relay. Of those, there may be some that your client may or may not be able to access at a given time. It is a very difficult/nearly impossible metric to measure accurately or consistently. This will only get more complex as user numbers, relay numbers, client diversity, and data distribution grows.
- Nothing on the web is immune to bots. Nostr is not immune to bots. WoT helps to hide these, but it is fallible without a centralized point of "verification" (which also doesn't prevent this, as anyone who's used centralized socials can attest) You will pick up bot followers, others will have bot followers, too.
- A lost or abandoned key doesn't mean that account will go away. It may always exist. User churn, compromised accounts, deleted accounts, failed first tries, test keys, and a plethora of other reasons will always account for follower numbers to grow for many people.
- Some onboarding flows involve creating a pre-built follow list for a new user. What those lists are comprised of, or how they are created, is largely the decision of those building these clients. This will conflate the number of follows on some accounts, in inorganic ways.
Welcome to true decentralization. The traditional definition of "success" will likely not apply, except maybe in semi-centralized environments. If you are trying to grow a presence, focus on your craft. If you are trying to have a good time, focus on your experience. 💜
