diff --git a/benchmarks/load_testing/fetcher.ex b/benchmarks/load_testing/fetcher.ex
index e378c51e7..cdc073b2e 100644
--- a/benchmarks/load_testing/fetcher.ex
+++ b/benchmarks/load_testing/fetcher.ex
@@ -39,10 +39,12 @@ def query_timelines(user) do
       "muting_user" => user
     }
 
+    following = User.following(user)
+
     Benchee.run(%{
       "User home timeline" => fn ->
         Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ActivityPub.fetch_activities(
-          [user.ap_id | user.following],
+          following,
           home_timeline_params
         )
       end,
@@ -60,7 +62,7 @@ def query_timelines(user) do
 
     home_activities =
       Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ActivityPub.fetch_activities(
-        [user.ap_id | user.following],
+        following,
         home_timeline_params
       )
 
diff --git a/benchmarks/load_testing/generator.ex b/benchmarks/load_testing/generator.ex
index 5c5a5c122..b4432bdb7 100644
--- a/benchmarks/load_testing/generator.ex
+++ b/benchmarks/load_testing/generator.ex
@@ -45,15 +45,13 @@ defp generate_user_data(i) do
         %{
           ap_id: ap_id,
           follower_address: ap_id <> "/followers",
-          following_address: ap_id <> "/following",
-          following: [ap_id]
+          following_address: ap_id <> "/following"
         }
       else
         %{
           ap_id: User.ap_id(user),
           follower_address: User.ap_followers(user),
-          following_address: User.ap_following(user),
-          following: [User.ap_id(user)]
+          following_address: User.ap_following(user)
         }
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/database.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/database.ex
index 8a827ca80..e2b5251bc 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/database.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/database.ex
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ def run(["bump_all_conversations"]) do
   def run(["update_users_following_followers_counts"]) do
     start_pleroma()
 
-    users = Repo.all(User)
-    Enum.each(users, &User.remove_duplicated_following/1)
-    Enum.each(users, &User.update_follower_count/1)
+    User
+    |> Repo.all()
+    |> Enum.each(&User.update_follower_count/1)
   end
 
   def run(["prune_objects" | args]) do
diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
index d7bdc2310..4e3b80db3 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def run(["unsubscribe", nickname]) do
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
 
-      if Enum.empty?(user.following) do
+      if Enum.empty?(User.get_friends(user)) do
         shell_info("Successfully unsubscribed all followers from #{user.nickname}")
       end
     else
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/bbs/handler.ex b/lib/pleroma/bbs/handler.ex
index fa838a4e4..b0e9ebbd0 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/bbs/handler.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/bbs/handler.ex
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def handle_command(state, "home") do
       |> Map.put("user", user)
 
     activities =
-      [user.ap_id | user.following]
+      [user.ap_id | Pleroma.User.following(user)]
       |> ActivityPub.fetch_activities(params)
 
     Enum.each(activities, fn activity ->
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex b/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ffac17ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2019 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.FollowingRelationship do
+  use Ecto.Schema
+
+  import Ecto.Changeset
+  import Ecto.Query
+
+  alias FlakeId.Ecto.CompatType
+  alias Pleroma.Repo
+  alias Pleroma.User
+
+  schema "following_relationships" do
+    field(:state, :string, default: "accept")
+
+    belongs_to(:follower, User, type: CompatType)
+    belongs_to(:following, User, type: CompatType)
+
+    timestamps()
+  end
+
+  def changeset(%__MODULE__{} = following_relationship, attrs) do
+    following_relationship
+    |> cast(attrs, [:state])
+    |> put_assoc(:follower, attrs.follower)
+    |> put_assoc(:following, attrs.following)
+    |> validate_required([:state, :follower, :following])
+  end
+
+  def get(%User{} = follower, %User{} = following) do
+    __MODULE__
+    |> where(follower_id: ^follower.id, following_id: ^following.id)
+    |> Repo.one()
+  end
+
+  def update(follower, following, "reject"), do: unfollow(follower, following)
+
+  def update(%User{} = follower, %User{} = following, state) do
+    case get(follower, following) do
+      nil ->
+        follow(follower, following, state)
+
+      following_relationship ->
+        following_relationship
+        |> cast(%{state: state}, [:state])
+        |> validate_required([:state])
+        |> Repo.update()
+    end
+  end
+
+  def follow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = following, state \\ "accept") do
+    %__MODULE__{}
+    |> changeset(%{follower: follower, following: following, state: state})
+    |> Repo.insert(on_conflict: :nothing)
+  end
+
+  def unfollow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = following) do
+    case get(follower, following) do
+      nil -> {:ok, nil}
+      %__MODULE__{} = following_relationship -> Repo.delete(following_relationship)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def follower_count(%User{} = user) do
+    %{followers: user, deactivated: false}
+    |> User.Query.build()
+    |> Repo.aggregate(:count, :id)
+  end
+
+  def following_count(%User{id: nil}), do: 0
+
+  def following_count(%User{} = user) do
+    %{friends: user, deactivated: false}
+    |> User.Query.build()
+    |> Repo.aggregate(:count, :id)
+  end
+
+  def get_follow_requests(%User{id: id}) do
+    __MODULE__
+    |> join(:inner, [r], f in assoc(r, :follower))
+    |> where([r], r.state == "pending")
+    |> where([r], r.following_id == ^id)
+    |> select([r, f], f)
+    |> Repo.all()
+  end
+
+  def following?(%User{id: follower_id}, %User{id: followed_id}) do
+    __MODULE__
+    |> where(follower_id: ^follower_id, following_id: ^followed_id, state: "accept")
+    |> Repo.exists?()
+  end
+
+  def following(%User{} = user) do
+    following =
+      __MODULE__
+      |> join(:inner, [r], u in User, on: r.following_id == u.id)
+      |> where([r], r.follower_id == ^user.id)
+      |> where([r], r.state == "accept")
+      |> select([r, u], u.follower_address)
+      |> Repo.all()
+
+    if not user.local or user.nickname in [nil, "internal.fetch"] do
+      following
+    else
+      [user.follower_address | following]
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index 5d3f55721..40171620e 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
   alias Pleroma.Activity
   alias Pleroma.Conversation.Participation
   alias Pleroma.Delivery
+  alias Pleroma.FollowingRelationship
   alias Pleroma.Keys
   alias Pleroma.Notification
   alias Pleroma.Object
@@ -50,7 +51,6 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
     field(:password, :string, virtual: true)
     field(:password_confirmation, :string, virtual: true)
     field(:keys, :string)
-    field(:following, {:array, :string}, default: [])
     field(:ap_id, :string)
     field(:avatar, :map)
     field(:local, :boolean, default: true)
@@ -216,13 +216,7 @@ def restrict_deactivated(query) do
     from(u in query, where: u.deactivated != ^true)
   end
 
-  def following_count(%User{following: []}), do: 0
-
-  def following_count(%User{} = user) do
-    user
-    |> get_friends_query()
-    |> Repo.aggregate(:count, :id)
-  end
+  defdelegate following_count(user), to: FollowingRelationship
 
   defp truncate_fields_param(params) do
     if Map.has_key?(params, :fields) do
@@ -309,7 +303,6 @@ def update_changeset(struct, params \\ %{}) do
         :bio,
         :name,
         :avatar,
-        :following,
         :locked,
         :no_rich_text,
         :default_scope,
@@ -454,7 +447,6 @@ defp put_following_and_follower_address(changeset) do
     followers = ap_followers(%User{nickname: get_field(changeset, :nickname)})
 
     changeset
-    |> put_change(:following, [followers])
     |> put_change(:follower_address, followers)
   end
 
@@ -508,8 +500,8 @@ def needs_update?(%User{local: false} = user) do
   def needs_update?(_), do: true
 
   @spec maybe_direct_follow(User.t(), User.t()) :: {:ok, User.t()} | {:error, String.t()}
-  def maybe_direct_follow(%User{} = follower, %User{local: true, locked: true}) do
-    {:ok, follower}
+  def maybe_direct_follow(%User{} = follower, %User{local: true, locked: true} = followed) do
+    follow(follower, followed, "pending")
   end
 
   def maybe_direct_follow(%User{} = follower, %User{local: true} = followed) do
@@ -527,37 +519,22 @@ def maybe_direct_follow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
   @doc "A mass follow for local users. Respects blocks in both directions but does not create activities."
   @spec follow_all(User.t(), list(User.t())) :: {atom(), User.t()}
   def follow_all(follower, followeds) do
-    followed_addresses =
-      followeds
-      |> Enum.reject(fn followed -> blocks?(follower, followed) || blocks?(followed, follower) end)
-      |> Enum.map(fn %{follower_address: fa} -> fa end)
+    followeds =
+      Enum.reject(followeds, fn followed ->
+        blocks?(follower, followed) || blocks?(followed, follower)
+      end)
 
-    q =
-      from(u in User,
-        where: u.id == ^follower.id,
-        update: [
-          set: [
-            following:
-              fragment(
-                "array(select distinct unnest (array_cat(?, ?)))",
-                u.following,
-                ^followed_addresses
-              )
-          ]
-        ],
-        select: u
-      )
-
-    {1, [follower]} = Repo.update_all(q, [])
+    Enum.each(followeds, &follow(follower, &1, "accept"))
 
     Enum.each(followeds, &update_follower_count/1)
 
     set_cache(follower)
   end
 
-  def follow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
+  defdelegate following(user), to: FollowingRelationship
+
+  def follow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed, state \\ "accept") do
     deny_follow_blocked = Pleroma.Config.get([:user, :deny_follow_blocked])
-    ap_followers = followed.follower_address
 
     cond do
       followed.deactivated ->
@@ -567,14 +544,7 @@ def follow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
         {:error, "Could not follow user: #{followed.nickname} blocked you."}
 
       true ->
-        q =
-          from(u in User,
-            where: u.id == ^follower.id,
-            update: [push: [following: ^ap_followers]],
-            select: u
-          )
-
-        {1, [follower]} = Repo.update_all(q, [])
+        FollowingRelationship.follow(follower, followed, state)
 
         follower = maybe_update_following_count(follower)
 
@@ -585,17 +555,8 @@ def follow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
   end
 
   def unfollow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
-    ap_followers = followed.follower_address
-
     if following?(follower, followed) and follower.ap_id != followed.ap_id do
-      q =
-        from(u in User,
-          where: u.id == ^follower.id,
-          update: [pull: [following: ^ap_followers]],
-          select: u
-        )
-
-      {1, [follower]} = Repo.update_all(q, [])
+      FollowingRelationship.unfollow(follower, followed)
 
       follower = maybe_update_following_count(follower)
 
@@ -609,10 +570,7 @@ def unfollow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
     end
   end
 
-  @spec following?(User.t(), User.t()) :: boolean
-  def following?(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
-    Enum.member?(follower.following, followed.follower_address)
-  end
+  defdelegate following?(follower, followed), to: FollowingRelationship
 
   def locked?(%User{} = user) do
     user.locked || false
@@ -834,16 +792,7 @@ def get_friends_ids(user, page \\ nil) do
     |> Repo.all()
   end
 
-  @spec get_follow_requests(User.t()) :: {:ok, [User.t()]}
-  def get_follow_requests(%User{} = user) do
-    user
-    |> Activity.follow_requests_for_actor()
-    |> join(:inner, [a], u in User, on: a.actor == u.ap_id)
-    |> where([a, u], not fragment("? @> ?", u.following, ^[user.follower_address]))
-    |> group_by([a, u], u.id)
-    |> select([a, u], u)
-    |> Repo.all()
-  end
+  defdelegate get_follow_requests(user), to: FollowingRelationship
 
   def increase_note_count(%User{} = user) do
     User
@@ -995,18 +944,6 @@ def increment_unread_conversation_count(conversation, %User{local: true} = user)
 
   def increment_unread_conversation_count(_, user), do: {:ok, user}
 
-  def remove_duplicated_following(%User{following: following} = user) do
-    uniq_following = Enum.uniq(following)
-
-    if length(following) == length(uniq_following) do
-      {:ok, user}
-    else
-      user
-      |> update_changeset(%{following: uniq_following})
-      |> update_and_set_cache()
-    end
-  end
-
   @spec get_users_from_set([String.t()], boolean()) :: [User.t()]
   def get_users_from_set(ap_ids, local_only \\ true) do
     criteria = %{ap_id: ap_ids, deactivated: false}
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user/query.ex b/lib/pleroma/user/query.ex
index 7f5273c4e..2eda454bc 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user/query.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user/query.ex
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User.Query do
   """
   import Ecto.Query
   import Pleroma.Web.AdminAPI.Search, only: [not_empty_string: 1]
+
+  alias Pleroma.FollowingRelationship
   alias Pleroma.User
 
   @type criteria ::
@@ -139,18 +141,40 @@ defp compose_query({:deactivated, true}, query) do
     |> where([u], not is_nil(u.nickname))
   end
 
-  defp compose_query({:followers, %User{id: id, follower_address: follower_address}}, query) do
-    where(query, [u], fragment("? <@ ?", ^[follower_address], u.following))
+  defp compose_query({:followers, %User{id: id}}, query) do
+    query
     |> where([u], u.id != ^id)
+    |> join(:inner, [u], r in FollowingRelationship,
+      as: :relationships,
+      on: r.following_id == ^id and r.follower_id == u.id
+    )
+    |> where([relationships: r], r.state == "accept")
   end
 
-  defp compose_query({:friends, %User{id: id, following: following}}, query) do
-    where(query, [u], u.follower_address in ^following)
+  defp compose_query({:friends, %User{id: id}}, query) do
+    query
     |> where([u], u.id != ^id)
+    |> join(:inner, [u], r in FollowingRelationship,
+      as: :relationships,
+      on: r.following_id == u.id and r.follower_id == ^id
+    )
+    |> where([relationships: r], r.state == "accept")
   end
 
   defp compose_query({:recipients_from_activity, to}, query) do
-    where(query, [u], u.ap_id in ^to or fragment("? && ?", u.following, ^to))
+    query
+    |> join(:left, [u], r in FollowingRelationship,
+      as: :relationships,
+      on: r.follower_id == u.id
+    )
+    |> join(:left, [relationships: r], f in User,
+      as: :following,
+      on: f.id == r.following_id
+    )
+    |> where(
+      [u, following: f, relationships: r],
+      u.ap_id in ^to or (f.follower_address in ^to and r.state == "accept")
+    )
   end
 
   defp compose_query({:order_by, key}, query) do
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex
index 07dde3537..093ee8fcd 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex
@@ -518,7 +518,9 @@ defp fetch_activities_for_context_query(context, opts) do
     public = [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()]
 
     recipients =
-      if opts["user"], do: [opts["user"].ap_id | opts["user"].following] ++ public, else: public
+      if opts["user"],
+        do: [opts["user"].ap_id | User.following(opts["user"])] ++ public,
+        else: public
 
     from(activity in Activity)
     |> maybe_preload_objects(opts)
@@ -712,7 +714,7 @@ defp user_activities_recipients(%{"godmode" => true}) do
 
   defp user_activities_recipients(%{"reading_user" => reading_user}) do
     if reading_user do
-      [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()] ++ [reading_user.ap_id | reading_user.following]
+      [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()] ++ [reading_user.ap_id | User.following(reading_user)]
     else
       [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()]
     end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_controller.ex
index 568623318..b2cd965fe 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_controller.ex
@@ -319,12 +319,12 @@ def read_inbox(
       when page? in [true, "true"] do
     activities =
       if params["max_id"] do
-        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user.ap_id | user.following], %{
+        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user.ap_id | User.following(user)], %{
           "max_id" => params["max_id"],
           "limit" => 10
         })
       else
-        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user.ap_id | user.following], %{"limit" => 10})
+        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user.ap_id | User.following(user)], %{"limit" => 10})
       end
 
     conn
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex
index a9434d75c..f90d75a8a 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex
@@ -57,9 +57,10 @@ def publish(_), do: {:error, "Not implemented"}
 
   @spec list() :: {:ok, [String.t()]} | {:error, any()}
   def list do
-    with %User{following: following} = _user <- get_actor() do
+    with %User{} = user <- get_actor() do
       list =
-        following
+        user
+        |> User.following()
         |> Enum.map(fn entry -> URI.parse(entry).host end)
         |> Enum.uniq()
 
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
index 9b3ee842b..3c27b0d46 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Transmogrifier do
   A module to handle coding from internal to wire ActivityPub and back.
   """
   alias Pleroma.Activity
+  alias Pleroma.FollowingRelationship
   alias Pleroma.Object
   alias Pleroma.Object.Containment
   alias Pleroma.Repo
@@ -474,7 +475,8 @@ def handle_incoming(
            {_, false} <- {:user_locked, User.locked?(followed)},
            {_, {:ok, follower}} <- {:follow, User.follow(follower, followed)},
            {_, {:ok, _}} <-
-             {:follow_state_update, Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(activity, "accept")} do
+             {:follow_state_update, Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(activity, "accept")},
+           {:ok, _relationship} <- FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "accept") do
         ActivityPub.accept(%{
           to: [follower.ap_id],
           actor: followed,
@@ -484,6 +486,7 @@ def handle_incoming(
       else
         {:user_blocked, true} ->
           {:ok, _} = Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(activity, "reject")
+          {:ok, _relationship} = FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "reject")
 
           ActivityPub.reject(%{
             to: [follower.ap_id],
@@ -494,6 +497,7 @@ def handle_incoming(
 
         {:follow, {:error, _}} ->
           {:ok, _} = Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(activity, "reject")
+          {:ok, _relationship} = FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "reject")
 
           ActivityPub.reject(%{
             to: [follower.ap_id],
@@ -522,7 +526,7 @@ def handle_incoming(
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- get_follow_activity(follow_object, followed),
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(follow_activity, "accept"),
          %User{local: true} = follower <- User.get_cached_by_ap_id(follow_activity.data["actor"]),
-         {:ok, _follower} = User.follow(follower, followed) do
+         {:ok, _relationship} <- FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "accept") do
       ActivityPub.accept(%{
         to: follow_activity.data["to"],
         type: "Accept",
@@ -545,6 +549,7 @@ def handle_incoming(
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- get_follow_activity(follow_object, followed),
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(follow_activity, "reject"),
          %User{local: true} = follower <- User.get_cached_by_ap_id(follow_activity.data["actor"]),
+         {:ok, _relationship} <- FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "reject"),
          {:ok, activity} <-
            ActivityPub.reject(%{
              to: follow_activity.data["to"],
@@ -554,8 +559,6 @@ def handle_incoming(
              local: false,
              activity_id: id
            }) do
-      User.unfollow(follower, followed)
-
       {:ok, activity}
     else
       _e -> :error
@@ -1061,43 +1064,22 @@ def perform(:user_upgrade, user) do
     # we pass a fake user so that the followers collection is stripped away
     old_follower_address = User.ap_followers(%User{nickname: user.nickname})
 
-    q =
-      from(
-        u in User,
-        where: ^old_follower_address in u.following,
-        update: [
-          set: [
-            following:
-              fragment(
-                "array_replace(?,?,?)",
-                u.following,
-                ^old_follower_address,
-                ^user.follower_address
-              )
-          ]
+    from(
+      a in Activity,
+      where: ^old_follower_address in a.recipients,
+      update: [
+        set: [
+          recipients:
+            fragment(
+              "array_replace(?,?,?)",
+              a.recipients,
+              ^old_follower_address,
+              ^user.follower_address
+            )
         ]
-      )
-
-    Repo.update_all(q, [])
-
-    q =
-      from(
-        a in Activity,
-        where: ^old_follower_address in a.recipients,
-        update: [
-          set: [
-            recipients:
-              fragment(
-                "array_replace(?,?,?)",
-                a.recipients,
-                ^old_follower_address,
-                ^user.follower_address
-              )
-          ]
-        ]
-      )
-
-    Repo.update_all(q, [])
+      ]
+    )
+    |> Repo.update_all([])
   end
 
   def upgrade_user_from_ap_id(ap_id) do
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/visibility.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/visibility.ex
index f3ab48f7c..cd4097493 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/visibility.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/visibility.ex
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def visible_for_user?(activity, nil) do
   end
 
   def visible_for_user?(activity, user) do
-    x = [user.ap_id | user.following]
+    x = [user.ap_id | User.following(user)]
     y = [activity.actor] ++ activity.data["to"] ++ (activity.data["cc"] || [])
     visible_for_user?(activity, nil) || Enum.any?(x, &(&1 in y))
   end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex
index 449b808b5..e57345621 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.CommonAPI do
   alias Pleroma.Activity
   alias Pleroma.ActivityExpiration
   alias Pleroma.Conversation.Participation
+  alias Pleroma.FollowingRelationship
   alias Pleroma.Object
   alias Pleroma.ThreadMute
   alias Pleroma.User
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ def accept_follow_request(follower, followed) do
     with {:ok, follower} <- User.follow(follower, followed),
          %Activity{} = follow_activity <- Utils.fetch_latest_follow(follower, followed),
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(follow_activity, "accept"),
+         {:ok, _relationship} <- FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "accept"),
          {:ok, _activity} <-
            ActivityPub.accept(%{
              to: [follower.ap_id],
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ def accept_follow_request(follower, followed) do
   def reject_follow_request(follower, followed) do
     with %Activity{} = follow_activity <- Utils.fetch_latest_follow(follower, followed),
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- Utils.update_follow_state_for_all(follow_activity, "reject"),
+         {:ok, _relationship} <- FollowingRelationship.update(follower, followed, "reject"),
          {:ok, _activity} <-
            ActivityPub.reject(%{
              to: [follower.ap_id],
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/timeline_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/timeline_controller.ex
index 9f086a8c2..f2d2d3ccb 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/timeline_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/timeline_controller.ex
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.TimelineController do
 
   alias Pleroma.Pagination
   alias Pleroma.Plugs.OAuthScopesPlug
+  alias Pleroma.User
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ActivityPub
 
   plug(OAuthScopesPlug, %{scopes: ["read:statuses"]} when action in [:home, :direct])
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ def home(%{assigns: %{user: user}} = conn, params) do
       |> Map.put("muting_user", user)
       |> Map.put("user", user)
 
-    recipients = [user.ap_id | user.following]
+    recipients = [user.ap_id | User.following(user)]
 
     activities =
       recipients
@@ -128,9 +129,12 @@ def list(%{assigns: %{user: user}} = conn, %{"list_id" => id} = params) do
 
       # we must filter the following list for the user to avoid leaking statuses the user
       # does not actually have permission to see (for more info, peruse security issue #270).
+
+      user_following = User.following(user)
+
       activities =
         following
-        |> Enum.filter(fn x -> x in user.following end)
+        |> Enum.filter(fn x -> x in user_following end)
         |> ActivityPub.fetch_activities_bounded(following, params)
         |> Enum.reverse()
 
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/pleroma_api/controllers/account_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/pleroma_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
index ee40bbf33..db6faac83 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/pleroma_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/pleroma_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def favourites(%{assigns: %{user: for_user, account: user}} = conn, params) do
 
     recipients =
       if for_user do
-        [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()] ++ [for_user.ap_id | for_user.following]
+        [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()] ++ [for_user.ap_id | User.following(for_user)]
       else
         [Pleroma.Constants.as_public()]
       end
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20191007073319_create_following_relationships.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20191007073319_create_following_relationships.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d49e24ee4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20191007073319_create_following_relationships.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+defmodule Pleroma.Repo.Migrations.CreateFollowingRelationships do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  def change do
+    create_if_not_exists table(:following_relationships) do
+      add(:follower_id, references(:users, type: :uuid, on_delete: :delete_all), null: false)
+      add(:following_id, references(:users, type: :uuid, on_delete: :delete_all), null: false)
+      add(:state, :string, null: false)
+
+      timestamps()
+    end
+
+    create_if_not_exists(index(:following_relationships, :follower_id))
+    create_if_not_exists(unique_index(:following_relationships, [:follower_id, :following_id]))
+
+    execute(update_thread_visibility(), restore_thread_visibility())
+  end
+
+  # The only difference between the original version: `actor_user` replaced with `actor_user_following`
+  def update_thread_visibility do
+    """
+    CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION thread_visibility(actor varchar, activity_id varchar) RETURNS boolean AS $$
+    DECLARE
+      public varchar := 'https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public';
+      child objects%ROWTYPE;
+      activity activities%ROWTYPE;
+      author_fa varchar;
+      valid_recipients varchar[];
+      actor_user_following varchar[];
+    BEGIN
+      --- Fetch actor following
+      SELECT array_agg(following.follower_address) INTO actor_user_following FROM following_relationships
+      JOIN users ON users.id = following_relationships.follower_id
+      JOIN users AS following ON following.id = following_relationships.following_id
+      WHERE users.ap_id = actor;
+
+      --- Fetch our initial activity.
+      SELECT * INTO activity FROM activities WHERE activities.data->>'id' = activity_id;
+
+      LOOP
+        --- Ensure that we have an activity before continuing.
+        --- If we don't, the thread is not satisfiable.
+        IF activity IS NULL THEN
+          RETURN false;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- We only care about Create activities.
+        IF activity.data->>'type' != 'Create' THEN
+          RETURN true;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- Normalize the child object into child.
+        SELECT * INTO child FROM objects
+        INNER JOIN activities ON COALESCE(activities.data->'object'->>'id', activities.data->>'object') = objects.data->>'id'
+        WHERE COALESCE(activity.data->'object'->>'id', activity.data->>'object') = objects.data->>'id';
+
+        --- Fetch the author's AS2 following collection.
+        SELECT COALESCE(users.follower_address, '') INTO author_fa FROM users WHERE users.ap_id = activity.actor;
+
+        --- Prepare valid recipients array.
+        valid_recipients := ARRAY[actor, public];
+        IF ARRAY[author_fa] && actor_user_following THEN
+          valid_recipients := valid_recipients || author_fa;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- Check visibility.
+        IF NOT valid_recipients && activity.recipients THEN
+          --- activity not visible, break out of the loop
+          RETURN false;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- If there's a parent, load it and do this all over again.
+        IF (child.data->'inReplyTo' IS NOT NULL) AND (child.data->'inReplyTo' != 'null'::jsonb) THEN
+          SELECT * INTO activity FROM activities
+          INNER JOIN objects ON COALESCE(activities.data->'object'->>'id', activities.data->>'object') = objects.data->>'id'
+          WHERE child.data->>'inReplyTo' = objects.data->>'id';
+        ELSE
+          RETURN true;
+        END IF;
+      END LOOP;
+    END;
+    $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE;
+    """
+  end
+
+  # priv/repo/migrations/20190515222404_add_thread_visibility_function.exs
+  def restore_thread_visibility do
+    """
+    CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION thread_visibility(actor varchar, activity_id varchar) RETURNS boolean AS $$
+    DECLARE
+      public varchar := 'https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public';
+      child objects%ROWTYPE;
+      activity activities%ROWTYPE;
+      actor_user users%ROWTYPE;
+      author_fa varchar;
+      valid_recipients varchar[];
+    BEGIN
+      --- Fetch our actor.
+      SELECT * INTO actor_user FROM users WHERE users.ap_id = actor;
+
+      --- Fetch our initial activity.
+      SELECT * INTO activity FROM activities WHERE activities.data->>'id' = activity_id;
+
+      LOOP
+        --- Ensure that we have an activity before continuing.
+        --- If we don't, the thread is not satisfiable.
+        IF activity IS NULL THEN
+          RETURN false;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- We only care about Create activities.
+        IF activity.data->>'type' != 'Create' THEN
+          RETURN true;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- Normalize the child object into child.
+        SELECT * INTO child FROM objects
+        INNER JOIN activities ON COALESCE(activities.data->'object'->>'id', activities.data->>'object') = objects.data->>'id'
+        WHERE COALESCE(activity.data->'object'->>'id', activity.data->>'object') = objects.data->>'id';
+
+        --- Fetch the author's AS2 following collection.
+        SELECT COALESCE(users.follower_address, '') INTO author_fa FROM users WHERE users.ap_id = activity.actor;
+
+        --- Prepare valid recipients array.
+        valid_recipients := ARRAY[actor, public];
+        IF ARRAY[author_fa] && actor_user.following THEN
+          valid_recipients := valid_recipients || author_fa;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- Check visibility.
+        IF NOT valid_recipients && activity.recipients THEN
+          --- activity not visible, break out of the loop
+          RETURN false;
+        END IF;
+
+        --- If there's a parent, load it and do this all over again.
+        IF (child.data->'inReplyTo' IS NOT NULL) AND (child.data->'inReplyTo' != 'null'::jsonb) THEN
+          SELECT * INTO activity FROM activities
+          INNER JOIN objects ON COALESCE(activities.data->'object'->>'id', activities.data->>'object') = objects.data->>'id'
+          WHERE child.data->>'inReplyTo' = objects.data->>'id';
+        ELSE
+          RETURN true;
+        END IF;
+      END LOOP;
+    END;
+    $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE;
+    """
+  end
+end
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20191008132217_migrate_following_relationships.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20191008132217_migrate_following_relationships.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9d5c2648f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20191008132217_migrate_following_relationships.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+defmodule Pleroma.Repo.Migrations.MigrateFollowingRelationships do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  def change do
+    execute(import_following_from_users(), "")
+    execute(import_following_from_activities(), restore_following_column())
+  end
+
+  defp import_following_from_users do
+    """
+    INSERT INTO following_relationships (follower_id, following_id, state, inserted_at, updated_at)
+    SELECT
+        relations.follower_id,
+        following.id,
+        'accept',
+        now(),
+        now()
+    FROM (
+        SELECT
+            users.id AS follower_id,
+            unnest(users.following) AS following_ap_id
+        FROM
+            users
+        WHERE
+            users.following != '{}'
+            AND users.local = false OR users.local = true AND users.email IS NOT NULL -- Exclude `internal/fetch` and `relay`
+    ) AS relations
+        JOIN users AS "following" ON "following".follower_address = relations.following_ap_id
+
+        WHERE relations.follower_id != following.id
+    ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING
+    """
+  end
+
+  defp import_following_from_activities do
+    """
+    INSERT INTO
+        following_relationships (
+            follower_id,
+            following_id,
+            state,
+            inserted_at,
+            updated_at
+        )
+    SELECT
+        followers.id,
+        following.id,
+        activities.data ->> 'state',
+        (activities.data ->> 'published') :: timestamp,
+        now()
+    FROM
+        activities
+        JOIN users AS followers ON (activities.actor = followers.ap_id)
+        JOIN users AS following ON (activities.data ->> 'object' = following.ap_id)
+    WHERE
+        activities.data ->> 'type' = 'Follow'
+        AND activities.data ->> 'state' IN ('accept', 'pending', 'reject')
+    ORDER BY activities.updated_at DESC
+    ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING
+    """
+  end
+
+  defp restore_following_column do
+    """
+    UPDATE
+        users
+    SET
+        following = following_query.following_array,
+        updated_at = now()
+    FROM (
+        SELECT
+            follower.id AS follower_id,
+            CASE follower.local
+            WHEN TRUE THEN
+                array_prepend(follower.follower_address, array_agg(following.follower_address))
+            ELSE
+                array_agg(following.follower_address)
+            END AS following_array
+        FROM
+            following_relationships
+            JOIN users AS follower ON follower.id = following_relationships.follower_id
+            JOIN users AS following ON following.id = following_relationships.following_id
+        GROUP BY
+            follower.id) AS following_query
+    WHERE
+        following_query.follower_id = users.id
+    """
+  end
+end
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20191008132427_drop_users_following.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20191008132427_drop_users_following.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21c0af9f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20191008132427_drop_users_following.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+defmodule Pleroma.Repo.Migrations.DropUsersFollowing do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  # had to disable these to be able to restore `following` index concurrently
+  # https://hexdocs.pm/ecto_sql/Ecto.Migration.html#index/3-adding-dropping-indexes-concurrently
+  @disable_ddl_transaction true
+  @disable_migration_lock true
+
+  def change do
+    drop(index(:users, [:following], concurrently: true, using: :gin))
+
+    alter table(:users) do
+      remove(:following, {:array, :string}, default: [])
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/support/factory.ex b/test/support/factory.ex
index 41e2b8004..e3f797f64 100644
--- a/test/support/factory.ex
+++ b/test/support/factory.ex
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ def user_factory do
       user
       | ap_id: User.ap_id(user),
         follower_address: User.ap_followers(user),
-        following_address: User.ap_following(user),
-        following: [User.ap_id(user)]
+        following_address: User.ap_following(user)
     }
   end
 
diff --git a/test/tasks/database_test.exs b/test/tasks/database_test.exs
index b66324e5e..0c7883f33 100644
--- a/test/tasks/database_test.exs
+++ b/test/tasks/database_test.exs
@@ -72,24 +72,25 @@ test "it prunes old objects from the database" do
   describe "running update_users_following_followers_counts" do
     test "following and followers count are updated" do
       [user, user2] = insert_pair(:user)
-      {:ok, %User{following: following} = user} = User.follow(user, user2)
+      {:ok, %User{} = user} = User.follow(user, user2)
+
+      following = User.following(user)
 
       assert length(following) == 2
       assert user.follower_count == 0
 
       {:ok, user} =
         user
-        |> Ecto.Changeset.change(%{following: following ++ following, follower_count: 3})
+        |> Ecto.Changeset.change(%{follower_count: 3})
         |> Repo.update()
 
-      assert length(user.following) == 4
       assert user.follower_count == 3
 
       assert :ok == Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.Database.run(["update_users_following_followers_counts"])
 
       user = User.get_by_id(user.id)
 
-      assert length(user.following) == 2
+      assert length(User.following(user)) == 2
       assert user.follower_count == 0
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/tasks/relay_test.exs b/test/tasks/relay_test.exs
index c866608ab..04a1e45d7 100644
--- a/test/tasks/relay_test.exs
+++ b/test/tasks/relay_test.exs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ test "relay is unfollowed" do
       target_user = User.get_cached_by_ap_id(target_instance)
       follow_activity = Utils.fetch_latest_follow(local_user, target_user)
       User.follow(local_user, target_user)
-      assert "#{target_instance}/followers" in refresh_record(local_user).following
+      assert "#{target_instance}/followers" in User.following(local_user)
       Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.Relay.run(["unfollow", target_instance])
 
       cancelled_activity = Activity.get_by_ap_id(follow_activity.data["id"])
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test "relay is unfollowed" do
       assert undo_activity.data["type"] == "Undo"
       assert undo_activity.data["actor"] == local_user.ap_id
       assert undo_activity.data["object"] == cancelled_activity.data
-      refute "#{target_instance}/followers" in refresh_record(local_user).following
+      refute "#{target_instance}/followers" in User.following(local_user)
     end
   end
 
@@ -78,20 +78,18 @@ test "Prints relay subscription list" do
 
       refute_receive {:mix_shell, :info, _}
 
-      Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Relay.get_actor()
-      |> Ecto.Changeset.change(
-        following: [
-          "http://test-app.com/user/test1",
-          "http://test-app.com/user/test1",
-          "http://test-app-42.com/user/test1"
-        ]
-      )
-      |> Pleroma.User.update_and_set_cache()
+      relay_user = Relay.get_actor()
+
+      ["http://mastodon.example.org/users/admin", "https://mstdn.io/users/mayuutann"]
+      |> Enum.each(fn ap_id ->
+        {:ok, user} = User.get_or_fetch_by_ap_id(ap_id)
+        User.follow(relay_user, user)
+      end)
 
       :ok = Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.Relay.run(["list"])
 
-      assert_receive {:mix_shell, :info, ["test-app.com"]}
-      assert_receive {:mix_shell, :info, ["test-app-42.com"]}
+      assert_receive {:mix_shell, :info, ["mstdn.io"]}
+      assert_receive {:mix_shell, :info, ["mastodon.example.org"]}
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/tasks/user_test.exs b/test/tasks/user_test.exs
index f024f92ae..bfd0ccbc5 100644
--- a/test/tasks/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/tasks/user_test.exs
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ test "no user to toggle" do
   describe "running unsubscribe" do
     test "user is unsubscribed" do
       followed = insert(:user)
-      user = insert(:user, %{following: [User.ap_followers(followed)]})
+      user = insert(:user)
+      User.follow(user, followed, "accept")
 
       Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.User.run(["unsubscribe", user.nickname])
 
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ test "user is unsubscribed" do
       assert message =~ "Successfully unsubscribed"
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_nickname(user.nickname)
-      assert Enum.empty?(user.following)
+      assert Enum.empty?(User.get_friends(user))
       assert user.deactivated
     end
 
diff --git a/test/user_test.exs b/test/user_test.exs
index 92de31c74..188295a86 100644
--- a/test/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/user_test.exs
@@ -88,10 +88,9 @@ test "doesn't return already accepted or duplicate follow requests" do
     CommonAPI.follow(pending_follower, locked)
     CommonAPI.follow(pending_follower, locked)
     CommonAPI.follow(accepted_follower, locked)
-    User.follow(accepted_follower, locked)
+    Pleroma.FollowingRelationship.update(accepted_follower, locked, "accept")
 
-    assert [activity] = User.get_follow_requests(locked)
-    assert activity
+    assert [^pending_follower] = User.get_follow_requests(locked)
   end
 
   test "clears follow requests when requester is blocked" do
@@ -136,10 +135,10 @@ test "follow_all follows mutliple users without duplicating" do
     followed_two = insert(:user)
 
     {:ok, user} = User.follow_all(user, [followed_zero, followed_one])
-    assert length(user.following) == 3
+    assert length(User.following(user)) == 3
 
     {:ok, user} = User.follow_all(user, [followed_one, followed_two])
-    assert length(user.following) == 4
+    assert length(User.following(user)) == 4
   end
 
   test "follow takes a user and another user" do
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ test "follow takes a user and another user" do
     followed = User.get_cached_by_ap_id(followed.ap_id)
     assert followed.follower_count == 1
 
-    assert User.ap_followers(followed) in user.following
+    assert User.ap_followers(followed) in User.following(user)
   end
 
   test "can't follow a deactivated users" do
@@ -218,26 +217,29 @@ test "unfollow with syncronizes external user" do
           nickname: "fuser2",
           ap_id: "http://localhost:4001/users/fuser2",
           follower_address: "http://localhost:4001/users/fuser2/followers",
-          following_address: "http://localhost:4001/users/fuser2/following",
-          following: [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+          following_address: "http://localhost:4001/users/fuser2/following"
         })
 
+      {:ok, user} = User.follow(user, followed, "accept")
+
       {:ok, user, _activity} = User.unfollow(user, followed)
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
 
-      assert user.following == []
+      assert User.following(user) == []
     end
 
     test "unfollow takes a user and another user" do
       followed = insert(:user)
-      user = insert(:user, %{following: [User.ap_followers(followed)]})
+      user = insert(:user)
+
+      {:ok, user} = User.follow(user, followed, "accept")
+
+      assert User.following(user) == [user.follower_address, followed.follower_address]
 
       {:ok, user, _activity} = User.unfollow(user, followed)
 
-      user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
-
-      assert user.following == []
+      assert User.following(user) == [user.follower_address]
     end
 
     test "unfollow doesn't unfollow yourself" do
@@ -245,14 +247,14 @@ test "unfollow doesn't unfollow yourself" do
 
       {:error, _} = User.unfollow(user, user)
 
-      user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
-      assert user.following == [user.ap_id]
+      assert User.following(user) == [user.follower_address]
     end
   end
 
   test "test if a user is following another user" do
     followed = insert(:user)
-    user = insert(:user, %{following: [User.ap_followers(followed)]})
+    user = insert(:user)
+    User.follow(user, followed, "accept")
 
     assert User.following?(user, followed)
     refute User.following?(followed, user)
@@ -335,7 +337,7 @@ test "it restricts certain nicknames" do
       refute changeset.valid?
     end
 
-    test "it sets the password_hash, ap_id and following fields" do
+    test "it sets the password_hash and ap_id" do
       changeset = User.register_changeset(%User{}, @full_user_data)
 
       assert changeset.valid?
@@ -343,10 +345,6 @@ test "it sets the password_hash, ap_id and following fields" do
       assert is_binary(changeset.changes[:password_hash])
       assert changeset.changes[:ap_id] == User.ap_id(%User{nickname: @full_user_data.nickname})
 
-      assert changeset.changes[:following] == [
-               User.ap_followers(%User{nickname: @full_user_data.nickname})
-             ]
-
       assert changeset.changes.follower_address == "#{changeset.changes.ap_id}/followers"
     end
 
@@ -650,37 +648,6 @@ test "it sets the follower_count property" do
     end
   end
 
-  describe "remove duplicates from following list" do
-    test "it removes duplicates" do
-      user = insert(:user)
-      follower = insert(:user)
-
-      {:ok, %User{following: following} = follower} = User.follow(follower, user)
-      assert length(following) == 2
-
-      {:ok, follower} =
-        follower
-        |> User.update_changeset(%{following: following ++ following})
-        |> Repo.update()
-
-      assert length(follower.following) == 4
-
-      {:ok, follower} = User.remove_duplicated_following(follower)
-      assert length(follower.following) == 2
-    end
-
-    test "it does nothing when following is uniq" do
-      user = insert(:user)
-      follower = insert(:user)
-
-      {:ok, follower} = User.follow(follower, user)
-      assert length(follower.following) == 2
-
-      {:ok, follower} = User.remove_duplicated_following(follower)
-      assert length(follower.following) == 2
-    end
-  end
-
   describe "follow_import" do
     test "it imports user followings from list" do
       [user1, user2, user3] = insert_list(3, :user)
@@ -989,7 +956,9 @@ test "hide a user's statuses from timelines and notifications" do
       assert [activity] == ActivityPub.fetch_public_activities(%{}) |> Repo.preload(:bookmark)
 
       assert [%{activity | thread_muted?: CommonAPI.thread_muted?(user2, activity)}] ==
-               ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user2.ap_id | user2.following], %{"user" => user2})
+               ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user2.ap_id | User.following(user2)], %{
+                 "user" => user2
+               })
 
       {:ok, _user} = User.deactivate(user)
 
@@ -997,7 +966,9 @@ test "hide a user's statuses from timelines and notifications" do
       assert [] == Pleroma.Notification.for_user(user2)
 
       assert [] ==
-               ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user2.ap_id | user2.following], %{"user" => user2})
+               ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user2.ap_id | User.following(user2)], %{
+                 "user" => user2
+               })
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs
index 4bb6333c0..0e5eb0c50 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/activity_pub_test.exs
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ test "does include announces on request" do
 
     {:ok, announce, _object} = CommonAPI.repeat(activity_three.id, booster)
 
-    [announce_activity] = ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user.ap_id | user.following])
+    [announce_activity] = ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user.ap_id | User.following(user)])
 
     assert announce_activity.id == announce.id
   end
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ test "it filters broken threads" do
         })
 
       activities =
-        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user1.ap_id | user1.following])
+        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user1.ap_id | User.following(user1)])
         |> Enum.map(fn a -> a.id end)
 
       private_activity_1 = Activity.get_by_ap_id_with_object(private_activity_1.data["id"])
@@ -1229,7 +1229,7 @@ test "it filters broken threads" do
       assert length(activities) == 3
 
       activities =
-        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user1.ap_id | user1.following], %{"user" => user1})
+        ActivityPub.fetch_activities([user1.ap_id | User.following(user1)], %{"user" => user1})
         |> Enum.map(fn a -> a.id end)
 
       assert [public_activity.id, private_activity_1.id] == activities
diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/relay_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/relay_test.exs
index ac2007b2c..98dc78f46 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/relay_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/relay_test.exs
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ test "returns activity" do
       service_actor = Relay.get_actor()
       ActivityPub.follow(service_actor, user)
       Pleroma.User.follow(service_actor, user)
-      assert "#{user.ap_id}/followers" in refresh_record(service_actor).following
+      assert "#{user.ap_id}/followers" in User.following(service_actor)
       assert {:ok, %Activity{} = activity} = Relay.unfollow(user.ap_id)
       assert activity.actor == "#{Pleroma.Web.Endpoint.url()}/relay"
       assert user.ap_id in activity.recipients
       assert activity.data["type"] == "Undo"
       assert activity.data["actor"] == service_actor.ap_id
       assert activity.data["to"] == [user.ap_id]
-      refute "#{user.ap_id}/followers" in refresh_record(service_actor).following
+      refute "#{user.ap_id}/followers" in User.following(service_actor)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier_test.exs
index 6f7e1da1f..2f25c40d2 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier_test.exs
@@ -1334,7 +1334,8 @@ test "it upgrades a user to activitypub" do
           follower_address: User.ap_followers(%User{nickname: "rye@niu.moe"})
         })
 
-      user_two = insert(:user, %{following: [user.follower_address]})
+      user_two = insert(:user)
+      Pleroma.FollowingRelationship.follow(user_two, user, "accept")
 
       {:ok, activity} = CommonAPI.post(user, %{"status" => "test"})
       {:ok, unrelated_activity} = CommonAPI.post(user_two, %{"status" => "test"})
@@ -1381,8 +1382,8 @@ test "it upgrades a user to activitypub" do
       refute user.follower_address in unrelated_activity.recipients
 
       user_two = User.get_cached_by_id(user_two.id)
-      assert user.follower_address in user_two.following
-      refute "..." in user_two.following
+      assert User.following?(user_two, user)
+      refute "..." in User.following(user_two)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/web/activity_pub/visibilty_test.exs b/test/web/activity_pub/visibilty_test.exs
index b62a89e68..4c2e0d207 100644
--- a/test/web/activity_pub/visibilty_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/activity_pub/visibilty_test.exs
@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@ test "returns false when invalid recipients", %{user: user} do
 
     test "returns true if user following to author" do
       author = insert(:user)
-      user = insert(:user, following: [author.ap_id])
+      user = insert(:user)
+      Pleroma.User.follow(user, author)
 
       activity =
         insert(:note_activity,
diff --git a/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs b/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs
index 58435d23c..22c989892 100644
--- a/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller_test.exs
@@ -2572,22 +2572,20 @@ test "POST /relay", %{admin: admin} do
     end
 
     test "GET /relay", %{admin: admin} do
-      Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Relay.get_actor()
-      |> Ecto.Changeset.change(
-        following: [
-          "http://test-app.com/user/test1",
-          "http://test-app.com/user/test1",
-          "http://test-app-42.com/user/test1"
-        ]
-      )
-      |> Pleroma.User.update_and_set_cache()
+      relay_user = Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Relay.get_actor()
+
+      ["http://mastodon.example.org/users/admin", "https://mstdn.io/users/mayuutann"]
+      |> Enum.each(fn ap_id ->
+        {:ok, user} = User.get_or_fetch_by_ap_id(ap_id)
+        User.follow(relay_user, user)
+      end)
 
       conn =
         build_conn()
         |> assign(:user, admin)
         |> get("/api/pleroma/admin/relay")
 
-      assert json_response(conn, 200)["relays"] -- ["test-app.com", "test-app-42.com"] == []
+      assert json_response(conn, 200)["relays"] -- ["mastodon.example.org", "mstdn.io"] == []
     end
 
     test "DELETE /relay", %{admin: admin} do
diff --git a/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller_test.exs b/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller_test.exs
index 00c83fd7b..8fc2d9300 100644
--- a/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller_test.exs
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ test "following without reblogs" do
 
       conn =
         build_conn()
-        |> assign(:user, follower)
+        |> assign(:user, User.get_cached_by_id(follower.id))
         |> post("/api/v1/accounts/#{followed.id}/follow?reblogs=true")
 
       assert %{"showing_reblogs" => true} = json_response(conn, 200)
diff --git a/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/follow_request_controller_test.exs b/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/follow_request_controller_test.exs
index 913f8c038..288cd9029 100644
--- a/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/follow_request_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/mastodon_api/controllers/follow_request_controller_test.exs
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@ test "/api/v1/follow_requests works" do
       other_user = insert(:user)
 
       {:ok, _activity} = ActivityPub.follow(other_user, user)
-
-      user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
-      other_user = User.get_cached_by_id(other_user.id)
+      {:ok, other_user} = User.follow(other_user, user, "pending")
 
       assert User.following?(other_user, user) == false
 
@@ -36,6 +34,7 @@ test "/api/v1/follow_requests/:id/authorize works" do
       other_user = insert(:user)
 
       {:ok, _activity} = ActivityPub.follow(other_user, user)
+      {:ok, other_user} = User.follow(other_user, user, "pending")
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
       other_user = User.get_cached_by_id(other_user.id)
diff --git a/test/web/streamer/streamer_test.exs b/test/web/streamer/streamer_test.exs
index 400f3287d..cb1015171 100644
--- a/test/web/streamer/streamer_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/streamer/streamer_test.exs
@@ -169,7 +169,8 @@ test "it sends to public" do
     test "it doesn't send to user if recipients invalid and thread containment is enabled" do
       Pleroma.Config.put([:instance, :skip_thread_containment], false)
       author = insert(:user)
-      user = insert(:user, following: [author.ap_id])
+      user = insert(:user)
+      User.follow(user, author, "accept")
 
       activity =
         insert(:note_activity,
@@ -191,7 +192,8 @@ test "it doesn't send to user if recipients invalid and thread containment is en
     test "it sends message if recipients invalid and thread containment is disabled" do
       Pleroma.Config.put([:instance, :skip_thread_containment], true)
       author = insert(:user)
-      user = insert(:user, following: [author.ap_id])
+      user = insert(:user)
+      User.follow(user, author, "accept")
 
       activity =
         insert(:note_activity,
@@ -213,7 +215,8 @@ test "it sends message if recipients invalid and thread containment is disabled"
     test "it sends message if recipients invalid and thread containment is enabled but user's thread containment is disabled" do
       Pleroma.Config.put([:instance, :skip_thread_containment], false)
       author = insert(:user)
-      user = insert(:user, following: [author.ap_id], skip_thread_containment: true)
+      user = insert(:user, skip_thread_containment: true)
+      User.follow(user, author, "accept")
 
       activity =
         insert(:note_activity,
diff --git a/test/web/twitter_api/util_controller_test.exs b/test/web/twitter_api/util_controller_test.exs
index 246da4da4..f0211f59c 100644
--- a/test/web/twitter_api/util_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/twitter_api/util_controller_test.exs
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ test "follows user", %{conn: conn} do
         |> response(200)
 
       assert response =~ "Account followed!"
-      assert user2.follower_address in refresh_record(user).following
+      assert user2.follower_address in User.following(user)
     end
 
     test "returns error when user is deactivated", %{conn: conn} do
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ test "follows", %{conn: conn} do
         |> response(200)
 
       assert response =~ "Account followed!"
-      assert user2.follower_address in refresh_record(user).following
+      assert user2.follower_address in User.following(user)
     end
 
     test "returns error when followee not found", %{conn: conn} do