diff --git a/home/home.go b/home/home.go
index 0d932f43..5de00c51 100644
--- a/home/home.go
+++ b/home/home.go
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ const statusCardScript = `<script>
     }
   }
 
-  function refresh() {
+  function refresh(scrollToTop) {
     if (inflight) return;
     inflight = true;
     fetch('/user/status/stream', { credentials: 'same-origin', cache: 'no-store' })
@@ -453,8 +453,16 @@ const statusCardScript = `<script>
       .then(function(html){
         if (html == null) return;
         var saved = currentInput();
+        // Preserve scroll position unless we explicitly want to
+        // scroll to top (e.g. after posting a new status).
+        var feed = document.getElementById('home-statuses');
+        var scrollPos = feed ? feed.scrollTop : 0;
         wrap.innerHTML = html;
         restoreInput(saved);
+        var newFeed = document.getElementById('home-statuses');
+        if (newFeed) {
+          newFeed.scrollTop = scrollToTop ? 0 : scrollPos;
+        }
         bindForm();
       })
       .catch(function(){})
@@ -483,7 +491,7 @@ const statusCardScript = `<script>
         body: body.toString()
       }).then(function(){
         input.value = '';
-        refresh();
+        refresh(true);
       }).catch(function(){
         // Fall back to a native form submit on network error.
         form.submit();
diff --git a/internal/auth/auth.go b/internal/auth/auth.go
index 610aef21..5aa17157 100644
--- a/internal/auth/auth.go
+++ b/internal/auth/auth.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -477,6 +478,11 @@ func CanPost(accountID string) bool {
 		return true
 	}
 
+	// Must be at least 24 hours old.
+	if time.Since(acc.Created) < 24*time.Hour {
+		return false
+	}
+
 	if VerificationRequired == nil || !VerificationRequired() {
 		return true
 	}
@@ -497,10 +503,11 @@ func PostBlockReason(accountID string) string {
 	if acc.Admin || acc.Approved {
 		return ""
 	}
-	if VerificationRequired == nil || !VerificationRequired() {
-		return ""
+	if time.Since(acc.Created) < 24*time.Hour {
+		remaining := (24*time.Hour - time.Since(acc.Created)).Round(time.Minute)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("New accounts must wait 24 hours before posting. %s remaining.", remaining)
 	}
-	if !acc.EmailVerified {
+	if VerificationRequired != nil && VerificationRequired() && !acc.EmailVerified {
 		return "Verify your email at /account before posting."
 	}
 	return ""
diff --git a/internal/flag/flag.go b/internal/flag/flag.go
index b8489487..c71f470c 100644
--- a/internal/flag/flag.go
+++ b/internal/flag/flag.go
@@ -80,21 +80,16 @@ func CheckContent(contentType, itemID, title, content string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	prompt := `You are a content moderator for a community that values purposeful, respectful discussion. Every post should be meaningful — this is not a place to waste time.
+	prompt := `You are a strict content moderator for a family-friendly community. Every post should be meaningful and respectful. This is not a place to waste time, troll, or post crude content.
 
 Classify the content with ONLY ONE WORD:
 - SPAM (promotional spam, advertising, repetitive junk)
-- TEST (test posts like "test", "hello world", etc.)
-- LOW_QUALITY (low-effort content, memes, nonsensical, no substance)
-- HARMFUL (gossip, backbiting, slander, personal attacks, mocking others, trolling)
-- OK (meaningful, on-topic, respectful content)
-
-Community principles:
-- Stay on topic and contribute something meaningful
-- Be respectful — disagree with ideas, not people
-- No gossip or backbiting (speaking ill of someone behind their back)
-- No personal attacks, mockery, or belittling
-- Religious and political discussion is welcome when done with sincerity and good manners
+- TEST (test posts like "test", "hello world", meaningless typing)
+- LOW_QUALITY (low-effort, memes, nonsensical, no substance, gibberish, single words)
+- HARMFUL (vulgar, crude, sexual, obscene, gossip, slander, personal attacks, mocking, trolling, shock content)
+- OK (meaningful, on-topic, respectful content that adds value)
+
+When in doubt, flag it. Better to flag something borderline than let inappropriate content through.
 
 Respond with just the single word.`
 
diff --git a/user/user.go b/user/user.go
index a4447a0f..2bc2fd5b 100644
--- a/user/user.go
+++ b/user/user.go
@@ -219,6 +219,17 @@ func GetProfile(userID string) *Profile {
 	return profile
 }
 
+// UpdateStatus is the safe way to change a user's status. It passes a
+// fresh Profile to UpdateProfile so the existing map entry isn't
+// aliased — UpdateProfile reads the old status from the map correctly
+// and pushes it to history before storing the new one.
+func UpdateStatus(userID, newStatus string) error {
+	return UpdateProfile(&Profile{
+		UserID: userID,
+		Status: newStatus,
+	})
+}
+
 // UpdateProfile saves a user's profile. Every non-empty previous
 // status is pushed onto the history so the full timeline of what a
 // user has said is preserved. Empty updates (clearing a status) are
@@ -439,9 +450,7 @@ func StatusHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	profile := GetProfile(sess.Account)
-	profile.Status = status
-	UpdateProfile(profile)
+	UpdateStatus(sess.Account, status)
 
 	// Async content moderation — flags spam/test/harmful automatically
 	// and auto-bans the user if it's bad. Fire-and-forget.
@@ -483,9 +492,7 @@ func PostSystemStatus(text string) error {
 	if len(text) > MaxStatusLength {
 		text = text[:MaxStatusLength-1] + "…"
 	}
-	profile := GetProfile(app.SystemUserID)
-	profile.Status = text
-	return UpdateProfile(profile)
+	return UpdateStatus(app.SystemUserID, text)
 }
 
 // moderateStatus runs async content moderation on a status post. If the
@@ -596,15 +603,14 @@ func Handler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Handle POST request for status update (legacy, profile page form)
+	// Handle POST request for status update (legacy, profile page form).
+	// Same gates as StatusHandler — CanPost, rate limit, wallet charge.
 	if r.Method == "POST" {
-		sess, _, err := auth.RequireSession(r)
+		sess, acc, err := auth.RequireSession(r)
 		if err != nil {
 			app.Unauthorized(w, r)
 			return
 		}
-
-		// Only allow updating own status
 		if sess.Account != username {
 			app.Forbidden(w, r, "")
 			return
@@ -615,15 +621,35 @@ func Handler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			status = status[:MaxStatusLength]
 		}
 
-		profile := GetProfile(sess.Account)
-		profile.Status = status
-		UpdateProfile(profile)
+		if status != "" {
+			if !auth.CanPost(acc.ID) {
+				app.Forbidden(w, r, auth.PostBlockReason(acc.ID))
+				return
+			}
+			if err := auth.CheckPostRate(acc.ID); err != nil {
+				app.Forbidden(w, r, err.Error())
+				return
+			}
+			canProceed, _, cost, _ := wallet.CheckQuota(acc.ID, wallet.OpSocialPost)
+			if !canProceed {
+				app.Forbidden(w, r, fmt.Sprintf("Status updates cost %d credit. Top up at /wallet", cost))
+				return
+			}
+			if err := wallet.ConsumeQuota(acc.ID, wallet.OpSocialPost); err != nil {
+				app.Forbidden(w, r, err.Error())
+				return
+			}
+		}
 
-		if status != "" && sess.Account != app.SystemUserID && AIReplyHook != nil && containsMention(status, MicroMention) {
-			go AIReplyHook(sess.Account, status)
+		UpdateStatus(sess.Account, status)
+
+		if status != "" {
+			go moderateStatus(sess.Account, status)
+			if sess.Account != app.SystemUserID && AIReplyHook != nil && containsMention(status, MicroMention) {
+				go AIReplyHook(sess.Account, status)
+			}
 		}
 
-		// Redirect back to profile
 		http.Redirect(w, r, "/@"+sess.Account, http.StatusSeeOther)
 		return
 	}