This is just a single user with a single post so you can't draw any useful conclusions, but... The main difference with Mastodon here is there is no fancy alg

This is just a single user with a single post so you can't draw any useful conclusions, but... The main difference with Mastodon here is there is no fancy algorithm. It's just a chronological timeline. So as a user, you quickly unfollow people who waste your time with uninteresting posts. Whereas on algorithm-driven services (literally every other social network) the algorithm will suppress posts of people you don't engage with, but leave you showing as following them (even though you don't see their posts) So with mastodon no matter how big the network gets, you'll always have fewer followers (as bored people unfollow you) but they will be more engaged (as your posts are never hidden)