Users are the algorithm here so absolutely I agree with you on boosting what you find interesting. But if anyone is wanting to build their following, which this person explicitly says they're trying to do, there are things that work and things that don't. Begging for followers will get you a couple of sympathy follows, and may even get them over their goal of 100. But that means nothing if those followers aren't following you because they actually like what you post and create. Theyre better off following others and engaging with them. No one should be surprised if they don't have followers on a social network where they are not being social.