The Problem: There is no single space on Nostr. The network is divided into “islands” (clusters) formed by the relays people are connected to. If you and another person do not share at least one relay, you are mutually invisible, even if both of you are connected to 100 different relays.

The Data: An academic study analyzed the network and confirmed that users cluster heavily around a few main relays. This is not a theory, but the current structure of the network.

Practical Implication: Your ability to see and be seen depends entirely on the strategic (and often opaque) choice of relays. You are not in a “public square,” but in a constellation of private lounges. Visibility is not guaranteed by the protocol; you must build it by carefully configuring your relay list.