Trying to wrap my head around the fediverse. Is each instance like another person with a server? Could that person just shut it down whenever they wanted to?

Are there any companies that have invested in hosting Lemmy/ other fediverse servers?

Sorry I’m sure I messed up some of the terminology, I hope my questions make sense! I love the idea of the fediverse as I understand it, but I like to dig into these details.

  • Crackhappy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    22·
    8 months ago

    If you created a Lemmy server, then you would be the owner of that particular instance, and yet another node in the fediverse. It’s not owned by anyone, really. The entire point of activitypub is that it’s entirely agnostic.

    • silly goose meekah@lemmy.world
      114·
      8 months ago

      Of course the servers are ownes by someone, what are you talking about? The thing is just that not all servers belong to one entity. So lemmy couldn’t be turned off because one person decides so.

      • aCosmicWave@lemm.ee
        14·
        8 months ago

        I think you misunderstood the person above you. The servers are owned by someone, but the Fediverse as a whole isn’t. You’re both saying the same thing ☺️