So like, how do I browse other instances or is that even a thing I can do without making an account on there
maple classic™ 
@synthgal looking at other instances' local timelines isn't a feature implemented on the mastodon app but you can do it with this tool http://www.unmung.com/mastoview?url=computerfairi.es&view=local
as for simply interacting with people in other instances, you can just use the public timeline (globe icon) or, if you found the toot outside our instance, paste the full url to the toot in the search box and click it to be able to reply to it
