Can I use two separate accounts on two instances on the same browser?
Is it okay to set up two accounts for two instances on the same web browser? When I go to visit the first instance, i can see that account is logged in for that instance. So, that works. Then I direct myself to the another instance's community/post, I can see the 2nd account is logged in for that instance. Would it make sense for me to set up individual accounts for each instance, or should I stick with only one account?
I am not understanding this federverse I have been reading about as today is my first day. thank you
You can access all posts from (most) any instance. For example, you are currently posting to a lemmy.world community and I'm replying to you from lemmy.world, but you are browsing from sh.itjust.works. This is fine and how it is expected to work.
So, there isn't much reason to have multiple accounts, but it also doesn't hurt to have multiple.
Just to add to this if your instance(sh.itjust.works) want to block lemmy.ca cause the those Canadians are the worse then you won't see their communities. You can sign in on lemmy.world where they have not block/defederate Lemmy.ca see the posts there.
Most of the time the instance will block/defederate other instances to protect their communities/members. Like if Lemmy.ca asked Lemmy.notCa to control their maple-deniers members that posts "Maple syrup is a hoax", and Lemmy.notCa refused, the Lemmy.ca can defederate/block Lemmy.notCa.
On the same browser, in the same instance, you're only going to be able to log into one at a time on that browser. An account may show up if you search for it, but you would have to log out and log into the other one to use it. But, when the instances are different, you have no issues at all switching between them. It's like being logged into amazon and eBay at the same time on a browser
Afaik, there's nothing saying you can't have accounts all over the place, in multiples, as long as the owner/s of the instance don't have a rule otherwise.
But! I would start with one account in one instance for a little while until you get used to the fediverse and navigating it. Less to keep track of.
And you don't need multiple accounts on multiple instances to use lemmy. That's the point of federation. They all can talk to each other, so long as a specific instance isn't defederated. There's a few that are almost totally defederated because of the content on them, as an example. Those, you'd need a separate account for. But unless you're into the batshit crazy end of communism, or loli art, you aren't missing anything in those.
You only need one account to navigate across the entire Lemmy instances, despite the server you choose. You can suscribe to communities searching in the glass button with pattern communityname@serverofthatcommunity.example
Upside in your lemmy instance there is a glass to search communities, you follow a pattern (I edited message to correct 'patron') serverthatyouwanttofollow@server.example