@squelf
Yes, your Lists are only visible to you. They're inteded as themed mini-timelines.
The List creation interface is a bit fiddly, but I've done a guide to using it at https://fedi.tips/how-to-use-the-lists-feature-on-mastodon/
Mastodon is the best way to keep up with what's happening.
Follow anyone across the fediverse and see it all in chronological order. No algorithms, ads, or clickbait in sight.