Social proof makes people follow accounts with big follower counts even when the content is identical to smaller creators. Like applause spreading through a crowd, perceived popularity drives growth more than actual quality.
Have you ever noticed how influencers get bigger and bigger even though your content might actually be better? There's some surprising psychology behind this. For example, clapping is contagious, and how much you applaud is influenced by the applause around you more than anything else. And this behavior is mirrored online. For example, you're more likely to follow an account with 10 million followers than one with 10 followers, even if the content is identical. This is called social proof, and
