I still learning how #mastodon works, so please be kind.

If I post something does it post just to my Instance (mastodon.social) or the whole fediverse?

After musk took over #twitter it felt like my reach was stifled unless I paid.

So are #hashtags needed to help find things?

@SpeedStar76 It goes out to everyone in the Fediverse.
@Enema_Cowboy ah ok thank you, so no matter what I post or where it's not limited to that one server. So Its possible I could see my own posts if I had two accounts (I do, I am on two servers and I didn't know better 😲)
@SpeedStar76 To clarify, your toots should be available in the "Federated" set of toots. Those that follow you will see your toots in their "Home" time line.
@Enema_Cowboy I haven't set any privacy on any of my posts (I don't actually know how!) So I'm assuming the whole network can see what I put out there.
@SpeedStar76 @Enema_Cowboy

The default "visibility" for posts is Public, so that post would be included in the (firehose!) Federated timeline and to anyone who searched for a hashtag you might have used, or who searches on your username. To tailor your visibility, before you send your post, click on the little globe and then its menu.
@geerue @Enema_Cowboy aha, got it! Thank you 😊