I did not know until now that it is possible to embed external images within posts and replies. I thought the only option was to upload to your instance.
this is bothersome, but if you use a VPN then at least there’s that.
otherwise it’s feasible to track captured addresses based on which posts they read by posting an external image in the post or a reply.
if you are seeing images in this post, then your client address is visible to any external image hosts.
I like Lemmy and Mastodon. No ads or manipulative algorithms. Somewhat social and usually polite. Turns out that when you don’t automate the incitement of anger and invective in clever ways that people can actually be pretty civil. Whoda thunk?