It does not help with earnings at all. One is only paid for reading time. You also are not doing the newbie writer any favours, plus you are contributing to paying readers leaving Medium. I left Medium for a year because Medium kept 'encouraging' newbie writers.

People who have the intelligence, the knowledge, and the talent to write don't need false claps. They already know they can write - it is one of those talents that is recognised very early.

When I see people following thousands of people, I don't even bother to read them

In addition, by applauding writers who cannot write, you are misleadi g them.