If the thousand instance users are controlled by three people, it's not that hard.

We might not be there yet though. Elections are far enough out.

I expect 95% of Lemmy to be propaganda and manipulation when we get closer. There's only so much that can be done to keep out nation states when all the users are anonymous.

And when you put your real name on things, you get cancelled.

It's a bad time for the Internet, and I don't have easy answers. Just be very aware that what seems to be "consensus" opinion might actually be twenty accounts controlled by the same guy or organization. They might even argue with each other, and just have the side they want to lose present weak arguments.