All of those fuel Sort by magic, which allows Reader to prioritize what it thinks you'll find interesting.*

I only ever use "Sort by oldest" (I have a fairly elaborate subfolder system and want to read each folder oldest to newest, like I do email). I sometimes peruse "recommended items", which I know is also informed by my use of like/share/etc, but I view it as a novelty if I'm bored. I never use "Sort by magic".

Anyway, it'll mention if people are following you. If no one is, perhaps you should look for a community that shares your interests?

I neither want nor do not want people to follow me - it's just I figure no one is, so what I do doesn't matter.