I tried that approach but was unable to achieve what you seem to have. I would constantly get "someone who ___ follows posted x" or likes y which meant that I was exposed constantly to vitriol and general ugliness. After a few years of trying (read clicking "stop showing me this" over and over) I gave up and deleted the account.

Not sure why my experience was different but I was trying to make the site work in good faith and didn't feel politically targeted. I just was unable to keep anger and reactivity off my feed from accounts I didn't even follow.