I’m starting to realize that it’s only the links that are decentralized and not, what I’d hoped for but was maybe obvious, my data/account.

I’ve asked over at [email protected] if anyone can register any nickname on any instance - essentially spoofing a user but on a different instance. Or if a username is “taken” across the fediverse.

Edit: anyone can register any ones username on a different instance. Spoofing/scamming isn’t handled very good?
Edit2: post and comment data is federated too, so your posts won’t dissappear, but might dis-converge(?) into multiple versions depending on things? :) This post helped me understand some of it: https://lemmy.world/comment/205763

I’d move to a closer instance, if I new they were in it for the long run and not shut down when they get bored after a few months. What happens if the instance I’m registered to decides to shut down?