Yes, I think so. I agree with you actually. But it doesn’t always seem like that’s the desired outcome for some people when they mention “decentralization”.

I have a particular interest group in mind here, who lament the current state of the Web to an extent unique to our time. It seems like they’re upset with their loss of agency/authority online. When a free, ad-less *.blogspot.com or LiveJournal presence could net you some clout you’d be precluded from otherwise in the real world.

Take for example any evidence of disapproval you may find from the proponents of ActivityPub toward the development of the AT Protocol in parallel. Also notice how moderation features on these federated platforms essentially centralize them and their respective enclaves. The desire for interoperability between social media platforms conflicts with the imminent re-siloing being examined. Or is it just the same ends with new wiry means attached?

“Decentralization” in this context seems more like separating from the whole with the hopes of replacing it. And I’m not confident that these many new “wholes” can resist jockeying one after the other for political influence.