diff --git a/crates/app/src/public/html/components.html b/crates/app/src/public/html/components.html
index f2bf48e..73cba83 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/public/html/components.html
+++ b/crates/app/src/public/html/components.html
@@ -227,6 +227,14 @@ and show_community and community.id != config.town_square or question %}
                     >
                         {{ icon "user-round" }}
                     </span>
+                    {% endif %} {% if post.is_deleted %}
+                    <span
+                        title="Deleted"
+                        class="flex items-center"
+                        style="color: var(--color-primary)"
+                    >
+                        {{ icon "trash-2" }}
+                    </span>
                     {% endif %}
                 </div>
 
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/channels/channels.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/channels/channels.rs
index cb8c3c1..584cc78 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/channels/channels.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/channels/channels.rs
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ pub async fn update_title_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_channel_title(id, user, &req.title).await {
+    match data.update_channel_title(id, &user, &req.title).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Channel updated".to_string(),
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ pub async fn update_position_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_channel_position(id, user, req.position).await {
+    match data.update_channel_position(id, &user, req.position).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Channel updated".to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/communities.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/communities.rs
index 1601d69..5f8688a 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/communities.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/communities.rs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pub async fn update_context_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_community_context(id, user, req.context).await {
+    match data.update_community_context(id, &user, req.context).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Community updated".to_string(),
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ pub async fn update_read_access_request(
     };
 
     match data
-        .update_community_read_access(id, user, req.access)
+        .update_community_read_access(id, &user, req.access)
         .await
     {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ pub async fn update_write_access_request(
     };
 
     match data
-        .update_community_write_access(id, user, req.access)
+        .update_community_write_access(id, &user, req.access)
         .await
     {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ pub async fn update_join_access_request(
     };
 
     match data
-        .update_community_join_access(id, user, req.access)
+        .update_community_join_access(id, &user, req.access)
         .await
     {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/emojis.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/emojis.rs
index 2676d6c..c8d1713 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/emojis.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/emojis.rs
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ pub async fn update_name_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_emoji_name(id, user, &req.name).await {
+    match data.update_emoji_name(id, &user, &req.name).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Emoji updated".to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/posts.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/posts.rs
index 8f565bc..b278adf 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/posts.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/communities/posts.rs
@@ -173,6 +173,31 @@ pub async fn delete_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
+    match data.fake_delete_post(id, user, true).await {
+        Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
+            ok: true,
+            message: "Post deleted".to_string(),
+            payload: (),
+        }),
+        Err(e) => Json(e.into()),
+    }
+}
+
+pub async fn real_delete_request(
+    jar: CookieJar,
+    Extension(data): Extension<State>,
+    Path(id): Path<usize>,
+) -> impl IntoResponse {
+    let data = &(data.read().await).0;
+    let user = match get_user_from_token!(jar, data) {
+        Some(ua) => ua,
+        None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
+    };
+
+    if !user.permissions.check(FinePermission::MANAGE_POSTS) {
+        return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into());
+    }
+
     match data.delete_post(id, user).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/mod.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/mod.rs
index 1cea099..9d35aa8 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/mod.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ pub fn routes() -> Router {
         // posts
         .route("/posts", post(communities::posts::create_request))
         .route("/posts/{id}", delete(communities::posts::delete_request))
+        .route(
+            "/posts/{id}/real_delete",
+            delete(communities::posts::real_delete_request),
+        )
         .route(
             "/posts/{id}/repost",
             post(communities::posts::create_repost_request),
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/stacks.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/stacks.rs
index a33df1e..85ebd5a 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/stacks.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/api/v1/stacks.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub async fn update_name_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_stack_name(id, user, &req.name).await {
+    match data.update_stack_name(id, &user, &req.name).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Stack updated".to_string(),
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ pub async fn update_privacy_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_stack_privacy(id, user, req.privacy).await {
+    match data.update_stack_privacy(id, &user, req.privacy).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Stack updated".to_string(),
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ pub async fn update_mode_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_stack_mode(id, user, req.mode).await {
+    match data.update_stack_mode(id, &user, req.mode).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Stack updated".to_string(),
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ pub async fn update_sort_request(
         None => return Json(Error::NotAllowed.into()),
     };
 
-    match data.update_stack_sort(id, user, req.sort).await {
+    match data.update_stack_sort(id, &user, req.sort).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "Stack updated".to_string(),
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ pub async fn add_user_request(
     };
 
     stack.users.push(other_user.id);
-    match data.update_stack_users(id, user, stack.users).await {
+    match data.update_stack_users(id, &user, stack.users).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "User added".to_string(),
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ pub async fn remove_user_request(
             None => return Json(Error::GeneralNotFound("user".to_string()).into()),
         });
 
-    match data.update_stack_users(id, user, stack.users).await {
+    match data.update_stack_users(id, &user, stack.users).await {
         Ok(_) => Json(ApiReturn {
             ok: true,
             message: "User removed".to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/pages/communities.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/pages/communities.rs
index e6949ff..8de6c41 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/pages/communities.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/pages/communities.rs
@@ -589,6 +589,33 @@ pub async fn post_request(
         Err(e) => return Err(Html(render_error(e, &jar, &data, &user).await)),
     };
 
+    if post.is_deleted {
+        // act like the post doesn't exist (if missing MANAGE_POSTS)
+        if let Some(ref ua) = user {
+            if !ua.permissions.check(FinePermission::MANAGE_POSTS) {
+                return Err(Html(
+                    render_error(
+                        Error::GeneralNotFound("post".to_string()),
+                        &jar,
+                        &data,
+                        &user,
+                    )
+                    .await,
+                ));
+            }
+        } else {
+            return Err(Html(
+                render_error(
+                    Error::GeneralNotFound("post".to_string()),
+                    &jar,
+                    &data,
+                    &user,
+                )
+                .await,
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+
     let community = match data.0.get_community_by_id(post.community).await {
         Ok(c) => c,
         Err(e) => return Err(Html(render_error(e, &jar, &data, &user).await)),
diff --git a/crates/app/src/routes/pages/stacks.rs b/crates/app/src/routes/pages/stacks.rs
index e103636..52cb44d 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/routes/pages/stacks.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/routes/pages/stacks.rs
@@ -120,15 +120,29 @@ pub async fn manage_request(
         ));
     }
 
+    let mut new_users = stack.users.clone();
+    let mut changed_stack_users: bool = false;
+
     let mut users: Vec<User> = Vec::new();
 
     for uid in &stack.users {
         users.push(match data.0.get_user_by_id(uid.to_owned()).await {
             Ok(ua) => ua,
-            Err(e) => return Err(Html(render_error(e, &jar, &data, &Some(user)).await)),
+            Err(_) => {
+                // user deleted profile, remove from list
+                new_users.remove(stack.users.iter().position(|x| x == uid).unwrap());
+                changed_stack_users = true;
+                continue;
+            }
         });
     }
 
+    if changed_stack_users {
+        if let Err(e) = data.0.update_stack_users(stack.id, &user, new_users).await {
+            return Err(Html(render_error(e, &jar, &data, &None).await));
+        }
+    }
+
     let lang = get_lang!(jar, data.0);
     let mut context = initial_context(&data.0.0, lang, &Some(user)).await;
 
diff --git a/crates/core/src/database/common.rs b/crates/core/src/database/common.rs
index a500067..399005b 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/database/common.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/database/common.rs
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     ($name:ident()@$select_fn:ident -> $query:literal --name=$name_:literal --returns=$returns_:tt --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:literal) => {
         pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize) -> Result<$returns_> {
             if let Some(cached) = self.2.get(format!($cache_key_tmpl, id)).await {
-                return Ok(serde_json::from_str(&cached).unwrap());
+                if let Ok(c) = serde_json::from_str(&cached) {
+                    return Ok(c);
+                }
             }
 
             let conn = match self.connect().await {
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident()@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -213,7 +215,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident()@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:literal) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -245,7 +247,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident($x:ty)@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -276,7 +278,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident($x:ty)@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:literal) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -309,7 +311,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident($x:ty)@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --serde) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -344,7 +346,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident($x:ty)@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --serde --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:literal) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -499,7 +501,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident()@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:ident) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -532,7 +534,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident($x:ty)@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:ident) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
@@ -611,7 +613,7 @@ macro_rules! auto_method {
     };
 
     ($name:ident($x:ty)@$select_fn:ident:$permission:ident -> $query:literal --serde --cache-key-tmpl=$cache_key_tmpl:ident) => {
-        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
+        pub async fn $name(&self, id: usize, user: &User, x: $x) -> Result<()> {
             let y = self.$select_fn(id).await?;
 
             if user.id != y.owner {
diff --git a/crates/core/src/database/drivers/sql/create_posts.sql b/crates/core/src/database/drivers/sql/create_posts.sql
index ab0bc6f..76350d7 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/database/drivers/sql/create_posts.sql
+++ b/crates/core/src/database/drivers/sql/create_posts.sql
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS posts (
     -- other counts
     comment_count INT NOT NULL,
     -- ...
-    uploads TEXT NOT NULL
+    uploads TEXT NOT NULL,
+    is_deleted INT NOT NULL
 )
diff --git a/crates/core/src/database/posts.rs b/crates/core/src/database/posts.rs
index dfa279b..99bb4b8 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/database/posts.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/database/posts.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ impl DataManager {
             comment_count: get!(x->9(i32)) as usize,
             // ...
             uploads: serde_json::from_str(&get!(x->10(String))).unwrap(),
+            is_deleted: get!(x->11(i32)) as i8 == 1,
         }
     }
 
@@ -195,6 +196,8 @@ impl DataManager {
 
                 // check relationship
                 if ua.settings.private_profile {
+                    // if someone were to look for places to optimize memory usage,
+                    // look no further than here
                     if let Some(ua1) = user {
                         if ua1.id == 0 {
                             continue;
@@ -202,7 +205,10 @@ impl DataManager {
 
                         if let Some(is_following) = seen_user_follow_statuses.get(&(ua.id, ua1.id))
                         {
-                            if !is_following && (ua.id != ua1.id) {
+                            if !is_following
+                                && (ua.id != ua1.id)
+                                && !ua1.permissions.check(FinePermission::MANAGE_POSTS)
+                            {
                                 // post owner is not following us
                                 continue;
                             }
@@ -211,6 +217,7 @@ impl DataManager {
                                 .get_userfollow_by_initiator_receiver(ua.id, ua1.id)
                                 .await
                                 .is_err()
+                                && !ua1.permissions.check(FinePermission::MANAGE_POSTS)
                             {
                                 // post owner is not following us
                                 seen_user_follow_statuses.insert((ua.id, ua1.id), false);
@@ -1105,7 +1112,7 @@ impl DataManager {
 
         let res = execute!(
             &conn,
-            "INSERT INTO posts VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11)",
+            "INSERT INTO posts VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11, $12)",
             params![
                 &(data.id as i64),
                 &(data.created as i64),
@@ -1121,7 +1128,8 @@ impl DataManager {
                 &0_i32,
                 &0_i32,
                 &0_i32,
-                &serde_json::to_string(&data.uploads).unwrap()
+                &serde_json::to_string(&data.uploads).unwrap(),
+                &{ if data.is_deleted { 1 } else { 0 } }
             ]
         );
 
@@ -1212,7 +1220,7 @@ impl DataManager {
             let question = self.get_question_by_id(y.context.answering).await?;
 
             if question.is_global {
-                self.incr_question_answer_count(y.context.answering).await?;
+                self.decr_question_answer_count(y.context.answering).await?;
             }
         }
 
@@ -1225,6 +1233,94 @@ impl DataManager {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    pub async fn fake_delete_post(&self, id: usize, user: User, is_deleted: bool) -> Result<()> {
+        let y = self.get_post_by_id(id).await?;
+
+        let user_membership = self
+            .get_membership_by_owner_community(user.id, y.community)
+            .await?;
+
+        if (user.id != y.owner)
+            && !user_membership
+                .role
+                .check(CommunityPermission::MANAGE_POSTS)
+        {
+            if !user.permissions.check(FinePermission::MANAGE_POSTS) {
+                return Err(Error::NotAllowed);
+            } else {
+                self.create_audit_log_entry(AuditLogEntry::new(
+                    user.id,
+                    format!("invoked `fake_delete_post` with x value `{id}`"),
+                ))
+                .await?
+            }
+        }
+
+        let conn = match self.connect().await {
+            Ok(c) => c,
+            Err(e) => return Err(Error::DatabaseConnection(e.to_string())),
+        };
+
+        let res = execute!(
+            &conn,
+            "UPDATE posts SET is_deleted = $1 WHERE id = $2",
+            params![if is_deleted { 1 } else { 0 }, &(id as i64)]
+        );
+
+        if let Err(e) = res {
+            return Err(Error::DatabaseError(e.to_string()));
+        }
+
+        self.2.remove(format!("atto.post:{}", id)).await;
+
+        if is_deleted {
+            // decr parent comment count
+            if let Some(replying_to) = y.replying_to {
+                self.decr_post_comments(replying_to).await.unwrap();
+            }
+
+            // decr user post count
+            let owner = self.get_user_by_id(y.owner).await?;
+
+            if owner.post_count > 0 {
+                self.decr_user_post_count(y.owner).await?;
+            }
+
+            // decr question answer count
+            if y.context.answering != 0 {
+                let question = self.get_question_by_id(y.context.answering).await?;
+
+                if question.is_global {
+                    self.incr_question_answer_count(y.context.answering).await?;
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            // incr parent comment count
+            if let Some(replying_to) = y.replying_to {
+                self.incr_post_comments(replying_to).await.unwrap();
+            }
+
+            // incr user post count
+            let owner = self.get_user_by_id(y.owner).await?;
+
+            if owner.post_count > 0 {
+                self.incr_user_post_count(y.owner).await?;
+            }
+
+            // incr question answer count
+            if y.context.answering != 0 {
+                let question = self.get_question_by_id(y.context.answering).await?;
+
+                if question.is_global {
+                    self.decr_question_answer_count(y.context.answering).await?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // return
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub async fn update_post_context(
         &self,
         id: usize,
diff --git a/crates/core/src/model/communities.rs b/crates/core/src/model/communities.rs
index 1e7094e..886dfd0 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/model/communities.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/model/communities.rs
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ pub struct Post {
     pub comment_count: usize,
     /// IDs of all uploads linked to this post.
     pub uploads: Vec<usize>,
+    /// If the post was deleted.
+    pub is_deleted: bool,
 }
 
 impl Post {
@@ -260,6 +262,7 @@ impl Post {
             dislikes: 0,
             comment_count: 0,
             uploads: Vec::new(),
+            is_deleted: false,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/sql_changes/posts_is_deleted.sql b/sql_changes/posts_is_deleted.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..01207f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sql_changes/posts_is_deleted.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ALTER TABLE posts
+ADD COLUMN is_deleted INT NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;