Have you tried steemit.chat? Sometimes socializing there helps.
I noticed you are following a lot of users, I suggest using steemstats.com and trim who you follow a little, it will show you who is following you and who isn't. Especially if you're seeing a lot of posts from users that may not share your interests and don't follow you back. You can concentrate on your "circle" of friends and grow it.
You can use steemd.com to see how active others are and if they are in voting on other users content and being social.
I follow way too many people than I have time for. I really need to take my own advice, but my focus is elsewhere. But I do trim some users that don't follow me back.
It does get frustrating!
I see where you are coming from. I have just learned that to gain a following you usually follow back when someone follows. it's like a handshake. It's true though I have noticed the big whales follow very few. I just never view that following too many people hurts the chances of being followed or upvoted by the Dolphins or Whales. Interesting view though. I will need to research this to see if its accurate. thank you Patrice for the information.