I think many have made this misguided mistake and if I am very honest I may have too at the start when I say others doing it. Maybe saying "engaged, this is mine" but I realised even that wasn't right and it felt robotic. I never engaged in a way that said "this is mine, I want the same in return or demand 50 claps, follow, etc". Engaging like that doesn't interest me, as I feel it's like desperation to get others to read. I always let someone decide if they want to read, even if I said the link is mine. I copped on however, that the whole "tit-for-tat" engagement doesn't work and is largely a waste of time. It may result in reads but if they aren't genuine reads, better without them, and vice versa. It's not really writing. If I wrote a book, I would expect people who bought it to be genuinely interested enough to buy and read it, even if they didn't like everything in it. So I think the same principle should apply in groups. Many are just simply reading stories of others to get their own read, and it stands out a mile. They don't engage with care or even at all and the engagement is shallow.

The read for read groups aren't particularly a healthy way to write, and in fact, not good at all. Just been looking at some groups where it clearly states in the "rules" that if a writer comments (posts) and someone posts links requesting to be read, that they MUST read! In this group it states that whoever doesn't do that will be banned from the group - so that is another reason people read others stories in a way that isn't authentic, as they don't want to be banned! I was recently banned from one group for not engaging with someone (as explained in the story) despite the admin of the group denied there was any kind of forced engagement but made other excuses. In that case, why ban someone? The reason was I didn't engage with someone and blocked them. Maybe I shouldn't have blocked them, but that was my way of coping. Even if I hadn't blocked but just ignored them, I don't think it would've mattered, as the person probably then would've given out I didn't read the story he requested. They groups are a bit toxic in all honestly. It's hard to have healthy interactions. For many it's a learning curve and many started off asking for reads like I did but gradually things differently. Leaving a link to read, if doing so, should at least be done with consideration to what's been read and without any kind of implication that the link MUST be read in return for reading someone's story. I seen many leave links saying "done, if interested - then the link" or just leaving the link and saying nothing. It's all a bit technical I guess! Engaging with CARE and consideration is what is needed, that's the way to keep readers not by making them feel obliged or threatening to ban them in groups, that just encourages inauthentic engagement.