Seems like a measure of pure popularity
Discussion
It would be if it wasn't regulated by the muting function. For instance I only mute accounts that come here and promote shitcoins.
Now if it was just "Who got the most likes/reposts/replies" then you would be 100% correct.
I do see what you are saying but I'm thinking the muting is a function of general psychology of a mass of people and in that mass things organically find what the mass just doesn't want to hear about.
I'd be shocked to find shitcoin accounts followed by a lot of the people you follow
Oh, I am absolutely sure that happens but I would never mute an account because of who they follow. I have no idea why they follow them. I followed Roger Ver on Twitter just so I could see what stupid shit he'd say next.