🌈Is the fediverse confusing you? ELI5: fediverse for dummies🌈
Try thinking of it like the edit: EU. Each instance (lemmy.ml, lemmy.world, kbin, beehaw, etc) is its own separate ‘state’ with its own rules and regulations. When federated, these ‘states’ talk and share content with each other. When defederated, they do not continue to talk between each other. You cannot log into another state/instance using your state/instance’s credentials, but you can see and interact with content from another state/instance.
The beauty of federation is that each instance can choose which they do and do not wish to share content/associate with.
Also, translation for ex-redditors:
subreddit = lemmy community = kbin magazine
kbin/lemmy = reddit clone
mastodon = twitter clone
You can currently connect through any of the above using whichever instance layout you prefer (reddit-like or twitter-like), though given that it’s all very in beta (early on) things will be buggy. ETA: there are, of course, more, but these are the ones I’m most familiar with currently
I hope this helps!
My understanding is that defederation has different flavors. You can be defederated, but your server can still read another’s and potentially even comment on that other server, but the communities on your server might be blocked from view on the other server. It matters what level of defederation the server admins decide upon. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
It helps some. How do I know what “state” I’m in if using the android app?
You created your account on lemmy.ml - so that is your home instance.
I’m on lemm.ee
If you wanted to create another account on lemm.ee (say if lemmy.ml and lemm.ee defederated from one another but you really wanted to see lemm.ee’s content), you could just type lemm.ee in your browser, the home page will come up, and you can make an account there.
By Android app I assume you mean you’re using Jerboa. You can log into any account from within the app (one at a time, of course).
I’m only three days into this as a reddit refugee, so I hope I explained this right as I’m figuring all of this out as well!
Try thinking of it like the United States. Each instance (lemmy.ml, lemmy.world, kbin, beehaw, etc) is its own separate ‘state’ with its own rules and regulations.
This isn’t the best example, american states basically have to play with the same rules for the most part, and can’t leave the union. keeping the analogu, the closest one could be the EU I think, especially with the Beehaw situation.