I saw the article you're responding to, or else one like it written by a very accomplished writer (TS) who acknowledges being challenged in her social skills.

To the extent that claps and praise may be transactional, I think she has a point. If all I want to say about someone's article is that I liked it, I'll just clap. To get more specific about the parts I like, I'll highlight--that gives the writer feedback that may be of value to them.

Should a writer thank a reader? TS says no, I think, because the reader's reward is the content of the article. Fair enough. I don't conclude with "Thanks for reading," but some writers do, perhaps as a way of acknowledging that a reader's time is limited, and a writer should appreciate being chosen as recipient of that time.

Bottom line for me is to be kind and courteous. It's a noisy, busy, crowded world, and it behooves us all to take the time to smile and speak to one another when we can.