Probably uses the Lemmy API to detect which instance you’re logged into or you log in directly when prompted.

Hi from Lemmyworld 👍

If for example you’re on lemmyworld and they defederate from Threads, you won’t see any Threads content, even if you sub to people on, say, kbinsocial who boost Threads content.

If you view those same profiles from say, shitjustworks, and they haven’t defederated, you will see all of their content plus the Threads content.

Unfortunately money makes the world go round. Part of the meaning of “no ethical consumption under capitalism” means that no matter who you are, no matter what kind of service you employ, no matter what you try and do for yourself, somewhere along the line capitalism comes in and causes someone to suffer. It’s pervasive and insidious.

If instances are completely supported by user donations, that’s great. But they will never match the billions of dollars that corps can toss around.

The only real way to prevent corporate influence on anything is to abolish corporations and/or capitalism. In the meantime, though, we as users can take steps to mitigate their influence: discuss proactively, agree to defederate at a moment’s notice, and server admins can refuse bribes/offers/etc.