I don't know. I had a little run on the Raven article, but the read ratio finished at 50% - member reads 54%. I'm not sure it made any difference. I earned more, but someone said that was probably because of something Medium had done - maybe they put it in a newsletter or something. I am only blocking definite bots. I don't think clappers are necessarily bots unless they are clapping lots of articles in close succession, like all within seconds.

I've just blocked one who leaves 'Good article 👍' on every article it comments on. Their feed looks pretty normal, but this behaviour is very bot like. I asked why they liked it. No response.