I don't buy the bandwagon effect for claps because:

1. Claps aren't on public display when you decide to click.

2. If I see 300, 400, or any round numbers, I know it was read only by writers who all gave 50, it's true 99% of the time. 417 claps has a higher chance to be from 17 different clappers.

3. readers don't care about the number of claps

There might be a bandwagon effect for comments

A story with 11 claps and 3 comments triggers my curiosity much more than one with 500 claps and 0 comments.