The functions are more or less supposed to be like how Reddit used to be (a link, comment, information and sometimes image aggregator). Here are some differences, though:
Many varieties of apps to access the Lemmy API (the reason why many people had migrated from Reddit in 2023 to begin with). It’s even partially compatible with Mastodon apps/accounts (the Fediverse’s closest analogue to Twitter)
Power tripping asshole mods and admins exist here just like anywhere else, but they alone can’t ruin all of Lemmy, unlike Reddit. Even the original creators, despite holding a couple of disagreeable and harmful views, has made something that’s larger than themselves.
There’s isn’t a dedicated team tied to deepening the owner’s pockets by finding ways to make the experience worse. Development progress is slow but it is continually in the interest of the community.
No ads! But please try to support your instance if you can!
A public modlog makes a huge difference, even if the mod action originators are still anonymous. By being honest with which of your account(s) were unfairly banned/silenced, you can make a public appeal (just in the form of a post from another instance). If it is a case of the aforementioned power-trippers, extreme bias, or tyrannical rules (but some instances like Beehaw have strict rules for good reason), then it is easy for everyone to see that, and you can make your home on the new Lemmy instance and have a good time. If you’re just a piece of shit troll, that’s also clear as day and then none of the networks will want you and ban you independently or you will get such notoriety that you will be blocked/banned/defederated.