From your description alone, knowing only the US and not Japan, it sounds like Europe is the middle ground. Not as free, but less socially oppressive. I mean, in Japan it’s mean to walk while you eat… how deep is the interference running?
Edit: Am from Europe, sorry should have added this.
This. Lemmy is the way to go. Decentralized Communities connected via API.
I don’t see many other possibilities. The system needs a “free for ever” mechanic or big money shits into everything.