If I choose a "community server", how does that differ from just using the Instagram "server" by using Instagram itself? Can't the community server ban me, or delete some of my data they don't like, for example? Or even sell my data?
> how does that differ from just using the Instagram "server"
1. You can move to another server if you don't like their rules, or to your own server. There is a competition between servers (and self-hosting!) making the network better for everyone.
2. There is no single point of failure for the whole network. Hackers and governments love single points of failure.
3. There's nobody who would forbid alternative clients or web access forcing you into a shitty app. There's no single entity owning everything and trying to extract as much money as possible from you. On Instagram, you're in a walled garden.
Why do they exist in the first place? Some of them can and do take money for the service. Some are volunteers who want to help users and support federation. Some are run by non-profits or companies as self-promotion.
