What Does It Mean To Have Social Media Followers?

We live in an age of abundant censorship. From Joe Rogan to Dan Bongino, platforms are becoming the gatekeepers. What draws you to a social media account? What moves people Does a high follower count equate to high quality count? Do follower counts even matter? Do you have to engage in an outrage to get followers?
Do you want 100 social media friends, or do you want 10 authentically engaged friends? What is the difference between misinformation and censorship?
How many social media platforms can we handle? What if Joe Rogan just decides to start his own streaming platform? Would you follow?