diff --git a/internal/ap/activitystreams_test.go b/internal/ap/activitystreams_test.go
index edade9718..050825a1a 100644
--- a/internal/ap/activitystreams_test.go
+++ b/internal/ap/activitystreams_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/activity/streams/vocab"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/ap"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/paging"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 func TestASCollection(t *testing.T) {
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ func TestASCollection(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:    parseURI(idURI),
 		First: new(paging.Page),
 		Query: url.Values{"limit": []string{"40"}},
-		Total: total,
+		Total: util.Ptr(total),
 	})
 
 	// Serialize collection.
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ func TestASCollectionTotalOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create new collection using builder function.
 	c := ap.NewASCollection(ap.CollectionParams{
 		ID:    parseURI(idURI),
-		Total: total,
+		Total: util.Ptr(total),
 	})
 
 	// Serialize collection.
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ func TestASCollectionPage(t *testing.T) {
 	p := ap.NewASCollectionPage(ap.CollectionPageParams{
 		CollectionParams: ap.CollectionParams{
 			ID:    parseURI(idURI),
-			Total: total,
+			Total: util.Ptr(total),
 		},
 
 		Current: currPg,
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ func TestASOrderedCollection(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:    parseURI(idURI),
 		First: new(paging.Page),
 		Query: url.Values{"limit": []string{"40"}},
-		Total: total,
+		Total: util.Ptr(total),
 	})
 
 	// Serialize collection.
@@ -193,7 +194,31 @@ func TestASOrderedCollectionTotalOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create new collection using builder function.
 	c := ap.NewASOrderedCollection(ap.CollectionParams{
 		ID:    parseURI(idURI),
-		Total: total,
+		Total: util.Ptr(total),
+	})
+
+	// Serialize collection.
+	s := toJSON(c)
+
+	// Ensure outputs are equal.
+	assert.Equal(t, expect, s)
+}
+
+func TestASOrderedCollectionNoTotal(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		idURI = "https://zorg.flabormagorg.xyz/users/itsa_me_mario"
+	)
+
+	// Create JSON string of expected output.
+	expect := toJSON(map[string]any{
+		"@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
+		"type":     "OrderedCollection",
+		"id":       idURI,
+	})
+
+	// Create new collection using builder function.
+	c := ap.NewASOrderedCollection(ap.CollectionParams{
+		ID: parseURI(idURI),
 	})
 
 	// Serialize collection.
@@ -239,7 +264,7 @@ func TestASOrderedCollectionPage(t *testing.T) {
 	p := ap.NewASOrderedCollectionPage(ap.CollectionPageParams{
 		CollectionParams: ap.CollectionParams{
 			ID:    parseURI(idURI),
-			Total: total,
+			Total: util.Ptr(total),
 		},
 
 		Current: currPg,
diff --git a/internal/ap/collections.go b/internal/ap/collections.go
index 62c81fd57..43b7541e4 100644
--- a/internal/ap/collections.go
+++ b/internal/ap/collections.go
@@ -321,7 +321,8 @@ type CollectionParams struct {
 	Query url.Values
 
 	// Total no. items.
-	Total int
+	// Omitted if nil.
+	Total *int
 }
 
 type CollectionPageParams struct {
@@ -367,6 +368,7 @@ type CollectionPageBuilder interface {
 // vocab.ActivityStreamsOrderedItemsProperty
 type ItemsPropertyBuilder interface {
 	AppendIRI(*url.URL)
+	AppendActivityStreamsCreate(vocab.ActivityStreamsCreate)
 
 	// NOTE: add more of the items-property-like interface
 	// functions here as you require them for building pages.
@@ -409,9 +411,11 @@ func buildCollection[C CollectionBuilder](collection C, params CollectionParams)
 	collection.SetJSONLDId(idProp)
 
 	// Add the collection totalItems count property.
-	totalItems := streams.NewActivityStreamsTotalItemsProperty()
-	totalItems.Set(params.Total)
-	collection.SetActivityStreamsTotalItems(totalItems)
+	if params.Total != nil {
+		totalItems := streams.NewActivityStreamsTotalItemsProperty()
+		totalItems.Set(*params.Total)
+		collection.SetActivityStreamsTotalItems(totalItems)
+	}
 
 	// No First page means we're done.
 	if params.First == nil {
@@ -497,9 +501,11 @@ func buildCollectionPage[C CollectionPageBuilder, I ItemsPropertyBuilder](collec
 	}
 
 	// Add the collection totalItems count property.
-	totalItems := streams.NewActivityStreamsTotalItemsProperty()
-	totalItems.Set(params.Total)
-	collectionPage.SetActivityStreamsTotalItems(totalItems)
+	if params.Total != nil {
+		totalItems := streams.NewActivityStreamsTotalItemsProperty()
+		totalItems.Set(*params.Total)
+		collectionPage.SetActivityStreamsTotalItems(totalItems)
+	}
 
 	if params.Append == nil {
 		// nil check outside the for loop.
diff --git a/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget.go b/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget.go
index 7dcc354ac..43379ad8f 100644
--- a/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget.go
+++ b/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget.go
@@ -19,14 +19,13 @@ package users
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	apiutil "github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/api/util"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/paging"
 )
 
 // OutboxGETHandler swagger:operation GET /users/{username}/outbox s2sOutboxGet
@@ -105,30 +104,17 @@ func (m *Module) OutboxGETHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	var page bool
-	if pageString := c.Query(PageKey); pageString != "" {
-		i, err := strconv.ParseBool(pageString)
-		if err != nil {
-			err := fmt.Errorf("error parsing %s: %s", PageKey, err)
-			apiutil.ErrorHandler(c, gtserror.NewErrorBadRequest(err, err.Error()), m.processor.InstanceGetV1)
-			return
-		}
-		page = i
+	page, errWithCode := paging.ParseIDPage(c,
+		1,  // min limit
+		80, // max limit
+		0,  // default = disabled
+	)
+	if errWithCode != nil {
+		apiutil.ErrorHandler(c, errWithCode, m.processor.InstanceGetV1)
+		return
 	}
 
-	minID := ""
-	minIDString := c.Query(MinIDKey)
-	if minIDString != "" {
-		minID = minIDString
-	}
-
-	maxID := ""
-	maxIDString := c.Query(MaxIDKey)
-	if maxIDString != "" {
-		maxID = maxIDString
-	}
-
-	resp, errWithCode := m.processor.Fedi().OutboxGet(c.Request.Context(), requestedUsername, page, maxID, minID)
+	resp, errWithCode := m.processor.Fedi().OutboxGet(c.Request.Context(), requestedUsername, page)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
 		apiutil.ErrorHandler(c, errWithCode, m.processor.InstanceGetV1)
 		return
diff --git a/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget_test.go b/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget_test.go
index 55e9f2f78..521af0ff0 100644
--- a/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/activitypub/users/outboxget_test.go
@@ -80,8 +80,9 @@ func (suite *OutboxGetTestSuite) TestGetOutbox() {
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.Equal(`{
   "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
-  "first": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?page=true",
+  "first": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?limit=40",
   "id": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox",
+  "totalItems": 7,
   "type": "OrderedCollection"
 }`, dst.String())
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ func (suite *OutboxGetTestSuite) TestGetOutboxFirstPage() {
 	// setup request
 	recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	ctx, _ := testrig.CreateGinTestContext(recorder, nil)
-	ctx.Request = httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, targetAccount.OutboxURI+"?page=true", nil) // the endpoint we're hitting
+	ctx.Request = httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, targetAccount.OutboxURI+"?limit=40", nil) // the endpoint we're hitting
 	ctx.Request.Header.Set("accept", "application/activity+json")
 	ctx.Request.Header.Set("Signature", signedRequest.SignatureHeader)
 	ctx.Request.Header.Set("Date", signedRequest.DateHeader)
@@ -138,8 +139,8 @@ func (suite *OutboxGetTestSuite) TestGetOutboxFirstPage() {
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.Equal(`{
   "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
-  "id": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?page=true",
-  "next": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?page=true\u0026max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY",
+  "id": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?limit=40",
+  "next": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?limit=40\u0026max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY",
   "orderedItems": [
     {
       "actor": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork",
@@ -159,7 +160,8 @@ func (suite *OutboxGetTestSuite) TestGetOutboxFirstPage() {
     }
   ],
   "partOf": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox",
-  "prev": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?page=true\u0026min_id=01HH9KYNQPA416TNJ53NSATP40",
+  "prev": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?limit=40\u0026min_id=01HH9KYNQPA416TNJ53NSATP40",
+  "totalItems": 7,
   "type": "OrderedCollectionPage"
 }`, dst.String())
 
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ func (suite *OutboxGetTestSuite) TestGetOutboxNextPage() {
 	// setup request
 	recorder := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	ctx, _ := testrig.CreateGinTestContext(recorder, nil)
-	ctx.Request = httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, targetAccount.OutboxURI+"?page=true&max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY", nil) // the endpoint we're hitting
+	ctx.Request = httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, targetAccount.OutboxURI+"?limit=40&max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY", nil) // the endpoint we're hitting
 	ctx.Request.Header.Set("accept", "application/activity+json")
 	ctx.Request.Header.Set("Signature", signedRequest.SignatureHeader)
 	ctx.Request.Header.Set("Date", signedRequest.DateHeader)
@@ -219,9 +221,10 @@ func (suite *OutboxGetTestSuite) TestGetOutboxNextPage() {
 	suite.NoError(err)
 	suite.Equal(`{
   "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
-  "id": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?page=true&maxID=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY",
+  "id": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox?limit=40&max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY",
   "orderedItems": [],
   "partOf": "http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox",
+  "totalItems": 7,
   "type": "OrderedCollectionPage"
 }`, dst.String())
 
diff --git a/internal/db/account.go b/internal/db/account.go
index 4f02a4d29..45a4ccc09 100644
--- a/internal/db/account.go
+++ b/internal/db/account.go
@@ -140,10 +140,23 @@ type Account interface {
 	// Update local account settings.
 	UpdateAccountSettings(ctx context.Context, settings *gtsmodel.AccountSettings, columns ...string) error
 
-	// PopulateAccountStats gets (or creates and gets) account stats for
-	// the given account, and attaches them to the account model.
+	// PopulateAccountStats either creates account stats for the given
+	// account by performing COUNT(*) database queries, or retrieves
+	// existing stats from the database, and attaches stats to account.
+	//
+	// If account is local and stats were last regenerated > 48 hours ago,
+	// stats will always be regenerated using COUNT(*) queries, to prevent drift.
 	PopulateAccountStats(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account) error
 
+	// StubAccountStats creates zeroed account stats for the given account,
+	// skipping COUNT(*) queries, upserts them in the DB, and attaches them
+	// to the account model.
+	//
+	// Useful following fresh dereference of a remote account, or fresh
+	// creation of a local account, when you know all COUNT(*) queries
+	// would return 0 anyway.
+	StubAccountStats(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account) error
+
 	// RegenerateAccountStats creates, upserts, and returns stats
 	// for the given account, and attaches them to the account model.
 	//
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/account.go b/internal/db/bundb/account.go
index eb5385c70..43978243a 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/account.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/account.go
@@ -1217,6 +1217,35 @@ func (a *accountDB) PopulateAccountStats(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (a *accountDB) StubAccountStats(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account) error {
+	stats := &gtsmodel.AccountStats{
+		AccountID:           account.ID,
+		RegeneratedAt:       time.Now(),
+		FollowersCount:      util.Ptr(0),
+		FollowingCount:      util.Ptr(0),
+		FollowRequestsCount: util.Ptr(0),
+		StatusesCount:       util.Ptr(0),
+		StatusesPinnedCount: util.Ptr(0),
+	}
+
+	// Upsert this stats in case a race
+	// meant someone else inserted it first.
+	if err := a.state.Caches.GTS.AccountStats.Store(stats, func() error {
+		if _, err := NewUpsert(a.db).
+			Model(stats).
+			Constraint("account_id").
+			Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	account.Stats = stats
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (a *accountDB) RegenerateAccountStats(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account) error {
 	// Initialize a new stats struct.
 	stats := &gtsmodel.AccountStats{
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/admin.go b/internal/db/bundb/admin.go
index e9191b7c7..ff398fca5 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/admin.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/admin.go
@@ -120,16 +120,6 @@ func (a *adminDB) NewSignup(ctx context.Context, newSignup gtsmodel.NewSignup) (
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		settings := &gtsmodel.AccountSettings{
-			AccountID: accountID,
-			Privacy:   gtsmodel.VisibilityDefault,
-		}
-
-		// Insert the settings!
-		if err := a.state.DB.PutAccountSettings(ctx, settings); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
 		account = &gtsmodel.Account{
 			ID:                    accountID,
 			Username:              newSignup.Username,
@@ -145,13 +135,26 @@ func (a *adminDB) NewSignup(ctx context.Context, newSignup gtsmodel.NewSignup) (
 			PrivateKey:            privKey,
 			PublicKey:             &privKey.PublicKey,
 			PublicKeyURI:          uris.PublicKeyURI,
-			Settings:              settings,
 		}
 
 		// Insert the new account!
 		if err := a.state.DB.PutAccount(ctx, account); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+
+		// Insert basic settings for new account.
+		account.Settings = &gtsmodel.AccountSettings{
+			AccountID: accountID,
+			Privacy:   gtsmodel.VisibilityDefault,
+		}
+		if err := a.state.DB.PutAccountSettings(ctx, account.Settings); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		// Stub empty stats for new account.
+		if err := a.state.DB.StubAccountStats(ctx, account); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Created or already had an account.
diff --git a/internal/federation/dereferencing/account.go b/internal/federation/dereferencing/account.go
index 33a71ceb9..069fca1bc 100644
--- a/internal/federation/dereferencing/account.go
+++ b/internal/federation/dereferencing/account.go
@@ -102,11 +102,15 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) GetAccountByURI(ctx context.Context, requestUser string,
 	}
 
 	if accountable != nil {
-		// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts.
+		// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts + stats.
 		d.state.Workers.Dereference.Queue.Push(func(ctx context.Context) {
 			if err := d.dereferenceAccountFeatured(ctx, requestUser, account); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account featured collection: %v", err)
 			}
+
+			if err := d.dereferenceAccountStats(ctx, requestUser, account); err != nil {
+				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account stats: %v", err)
+			}
 		})
 	}
 
@@ -150,11 +154,22 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) getAccountByURI(ctx context.Context, requestUser string,
 		}
 
 		// Create and pass-through a new bare-bones model for dereferencing.
-		return d.enrichAccountSafely(ctx, requestUser, uri, &gtsmodel.Account{
+		account, accountable, err := d.enrichAccountSafely(ctx, requestUser, uri, &gtsmodel.Account{
 			ID:     id.NewULID(),
 			Domain: uri.Host,
 			URI:    uriStr,
 		}, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, err
+		}
+
+		// We have a new account. Ensure basic account stats populated;
+		// real stats will be fetched from remote asynchronously.
+		if err := d.state.DB.StubAccountStats(ctx, account); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, gtserror.Newf("error stubbing account stats: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		return account, accountable, nil
 	}
 
 	if accountFresh(account, nil) {
@@ -199,11 +214,15 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) GetAccountByUsernameDomain(ctx context.Context, requestUs
 	}
 
 	if accountable != nil {
-		// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts.
+		// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts + stats.
 		d.state.Workers.Dereference.Queue.Push(func(ctx context.Context) {
 			if err := d.dereferenceAccountFeatured(ctx, requestUser, account); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account featured collection: %v", err)
 			}
+
+			if err := d.dereferenceAccountStats(ctx, requestUser, account); err != nil {
+				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account stats: %v", err)
+			}
 		})
 	}
 
@@ -251,6 +270,12 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) getAccountByUsernameDomain(
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}
 
+		// We have a new account. Ensure basic account stats populated;
+		// real stats will be fetched from remote asynchronously.
+		if err := d.state.DB.StubAccountStats(ctx, account); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, gtserror.Newf("error stubbing account stats: %w", err)
+		}
+
 		return account, accountable, nil
 	}
 
@@ -320,11 +345,15 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) RefreshAccount(
 	}
 
 	if accountable != nil {
-		// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts.
+		// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts + stats.
 		d.state.Workers.Dereference.Queue.Push(func(ctx context.Context) {
 			if err := d.dereferenceAccountFeatured(ctx, requestUser, latest); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account featured collection: %v", err)
 			}
+
+			if err := d.dereferenceAccountStats(ctx, requestUser, latest); err != nil {
+				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account stats: %v", err)
+			}
 		})
 	}
 
@@ -369,10 +398,14 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) RefreshAccountAsync(
 		}
 
 		if accountable != nil {
-			// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts.
+			// This account was updated, enqueue re-dereference featured posts + stats.
 			if err := d.dereferenceAccountFeatured(ctx, requestUser, latest); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account featured collection: %v", err)
 			}
+
+			if err := d.dereferenceAccountStats(ctx, requestUser, latest); err != nil {
+				log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching account stats: %v", err)
+			}
 		}
 	})
 }
@@ -697,12 +730,12 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) enrichAccount(
 	latestAcc.ID = account.ID
 	latestAcc.FetchedAt = time.Now()
 
-	// Ensure the account's avatar media is populated, passing in existing to check for chages.
+	// Ensure the account's avatar media is populated, passing in existing to check for changes.
 	if err := d.fetchRemoteAccountAvatar(ctx, tsport, account, latestAcc); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching remote avatar for account %s: %v", uri, err)
 	}
 
-	// Ensure the account's avatar media is populated, passing in existing to check for chages.
+	// Ensure the account's avatar media is populated, passing in existing to check for changes.
 	if err := d.fetchRemoteAccountHeader(ctx, tsport, account, latestAcc); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching remote header for account %s: %v", uri, err)
 	}
@@ -712,11 +745,6 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) enrichAccount(
 		log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching remote emojis for account %s: %v", uri, err)
 	}
 
-	// Fetch followers/following count for this account.
-	if err := d.fetchRemoteAccountStats(ctx, latestAcc, requestUser); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf(ctx, "error fetching remote stats for account %s: %v", uri, err)
-	}
-
 	if account.IsNew() {
 		// Prefer published/created time from
 		// apubAcc, fall back to FetchedAt value.
@@ -1007,7 +1035,7 @@ func (d *Dereferencer) fetchRemoteAccountEmojis(ctx context.Context, targetAccou
 	return changed, nil
 }
 
-func (d *Dereferencer) fetchRemoteAccountStats(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account, requestUser string) error {
+func (d *Dereferencer) dereferenceAccountStats(ctx context.Context, requestUser string, account *gtsmodel.Account) error {
 	// Ensure we have a stats model for this account.
 	if account.Stats == nil {
 		if err := d.state.DB.PopulateAccountStats(ctx, account); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/processing/fedi/collections.go b/internal/processing/fedi/collections.go
index 7a6c99adb..a1fc5e1f4 100644
--- a/internal/processing/fedi/collections.go
+++ b/internal/processing/fedi/collections.go
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/log"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/paging"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/typeutils"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // InboxPost handles POST requests to a user's inbox for new activitypub messages.
@@ -45,91 +47,32 @@ func (p *Processor) InboxPost(ctx context.Context, w http.ResponseWriter, r *htt
 	return p.federator.FederatingActor().PostInbox(ctx, w, r)
 }
 
-// OutboxGet returns the activitypub representation of a local user's outbox.
-// This contains links to PUBLIC posts made by this user.
+// OutboxGet returns the serialized ActivityPub
+// collection of a local account's outbox, which
+// contains links to PUBLIC posts by this account.
 func (p *Processor) OutboxGet(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	requestedUser string,
-	page bool,
-	maxID string,
-	minID string,
+	page *paging.Page,
 ) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
-	// Authenticate the incoming request, getting related user accounts.
-	_, receiver, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
-	if errWithCode != nil {
-		return nil, errWithCode
-	}
-
-	var data map[string]interface{}
-	// There are two scenarios:
-	// 1. we're asked for the whole collection and not a page -- we can just return the collection, with no items, but a link to 'first' page.
-	// 2. we're asked for a specific page; this can be either the first page or any other page
-
-	if !page {
-		/*
-			scenario 1: return the collection with no items
-			we want something that looks like this:
-			{
-				"@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
-				"id": "https://example.org/users/whatever/outbox",
-				"type": "OrderedCollection",
-				"first": "https://example.org/users/whatever/outbox?page=true",
-				"last": "https://example.org/users/whatever/outbox?min_id=0&page=true"
-			}
-		*/
-		collection, err := p.converter.OutboxToASCollection(ctx, receiver.OutboxURI)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
-		}
-
-		data, err = ap.Serialize(collection)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
-		}
-
-		return data, nil
-	}
-
-	// scenario 2 -- get the requested page
-	// limit pages to 30 entries per page
-	publicStatuses, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountStatuses(ctx, receiver.ID, 30, true, true, maxID, minID, false, true)
-	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, db.ErrNoEntries) {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
-	}
-
-	outboxPage, err := p.converter.StatusesToASOutboxPage(ctx, receiver.OutboxURI, maxID, minID, publicStatuses)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
-	}
-
-	data, err = ap.Serialize(outboxPage)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
-	}
-
-	return data, nil
-}
-
-// FollowersGet handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a user/account's followers, performing appropriate
-// authentication before returning a JSON serializable interface to the caller.
-func (p *Processor) FollowersGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page *paging.Page) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
-	// Authenticate the incoming request, getting related user accounts.
-	_, receiver, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
+	// Authenticate incoming request, getting related accounts.
+	auth, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
 		return nil, errWithCode
 	}
+	receivingAcct := auth.receivingAcct
 
 	// Parse the collection ID object from account's followers URI.
-	collectionID, err := url.Parse(receiver.FollowersURI)
+	collectionID, err := url.Parse(receivingAcct.OutboxURI)
 	if err != nil {
-		err := gtserror.Newf("error parsing account followers uri %s: %w", receiver.FollowersURI, err)
+		err := gtserror.Newf("error parsing account outbox uri %s: %w", receivingAcct.OutboxURI, err)
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 	}
 
 	// Ensure we have stats for this account.
-	if receiver.Stats == nil {
-		if err := p.state.DB.PopulateAccountStats(ctx, receiver); err != nil {
-			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting stats for account %s: %w", receiver.ID, err)
+	if receivingAcct.Stats == nil {
+		if err := p.state.DB.PopulateAccountStats(ctx, receivingAcct); err != nil {
+			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting stats for account %s: %w", receivingAcct.ID, err)
 			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -139,29 +82,160 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowersGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 	// Start the AS collection params.
 	var params ap.CollectionParams
 	params.ID = collectionID
-	params.Total = *receiver.Stats.FollowersCount
 
 	switch {
 
-	case receiver.IsInstance() ||
-		*receiver.Settings.HideCollections:
-		// Instance account (can't follow/be followed),
-		// or an account that hides followers/following.
-		// Respect this by just returning totalItems.
+	case *receivingAcct.Settings.HideCollections ||
+		receivingAcct.IsInstance():
+		// If account that hides collections, or instance
+		// account (ie., can't post / have relationships),
+		// just return barest stub of collection.
 		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollection(params)
 
-	case page == nil:
-		// i.e. paging disabled, return collection
-		// that links to first page (i.e. path below).
+	case page == nil || auth.handshakingURI != nil:
+		// If paging disabled, or we're currently handshaking
+		// the requester, just return collection that links
+		// to first page (i.e. path below), with no items.
+		params.Total = util.Ptr(*receivingAcct.Stats.StatusesCount)
 		params.First = new(paging.Page)
 		params.Query = make(url.Values, 1)
 		params.Query.Set("limit", "40") // enables paging
 		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollection(params)
 
 	default:
-		// i.e. paging enabled
-		// Get the request page of full follower objects with attached accounts.
-		followers, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountFollowers(ctx, receiver.ID, page)
+		// Paging enabled.
+		// Get page of full public statuses.
+		statuses, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountStatuses(
+			ctx,
+			receivingAcct.ID,
+			page.GetLimit(), // limit
+			true,            // excludeReplies
+			true,            // excludeReblogs
+			page.GetMax(),   // maxID
+			page.GetMin(),   // minID
+			false,           // mediaOnly
+			true,            // publicOnly
+		)
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, db.ErrNoEntries) {
+			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting statuses: %w", err)
+			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+		}
+
+		// page ID values.
+		var lo, hi string
+
+		if len(statuses) > 0 {
+			// Get the lowest and highest
+			// ID values, used for paging.
+			lo = statuses[len(statuses)-1].ID
+			hi = statuses[0].ID
+		}
+
+		// Start building AS collection page params.
+		params.Total = util.Ptr(*receivingAcct.Stats.StatusesCount)
+		var pageParams ap.CollectionPageParams
+		pageParams.CollectionParams = params
+
+		// Current page details.
+		pageParams.Current = page
+		pageParams.Count = len(statuses)
+
+		// Set linked next/prev parameters.
+		pageParams.Next = page.Next(lo, hi)
+		pageParams.Prev = page.Prev(lo, hi)
+
+		// Set the collection item property builder function.
+		pageParams.Append = func(i int, itemsProp ap.ItemsPropertyBuilder) {
+			// Get status at index.
+			status := statuses[i]
+
+			// Derive statusable from status.
+			statusable, err := p.converter.StatusToAS(ctx, status)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Errorf(ctx, "error converting %s to statusable: %v", status.URI, err)
+				return
+			}
+
+			// Derive create from statusable, using the IRI only.
+			create := typeutils.WrapStatusableInCreate(statusable, true)
+
+			// Add to item property.
+			itemsProp.AppendActivityStreamsCreate(create)
+		}
+
+		// Build AS collection page object from params.
+		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollectionPage(pageParams)
+	}
+
+	// Serialize the prepared object.
+	data, err := ap.Serialize(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		err := gtserror.Newf("error serializing: %w", err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+	}
+
+	return data, nil
+}
+
+// FollowersGet returns the serialized ActivityPub
+// collection of a local account's followers collection,
+// which contains links to accounts following this account.
+func (p *Processor) FollowersGet(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	requestedUser string,
+	page *paging.Page,
+) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
+	// Authenticate incoming request, getting related accounts.
+	auth, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
+	if errWithCode != nil {
+		return nil, errWithCode
+	}
+	receivingAcct := auth.receivingAcct
+
+	// Parse the collection ID object from account's followers URI.
+	collectionID, err := url.Parse(receivingAcct.FollowersURI)
+	if err != nil {
+		err := gtserror.Newf("error parsing account followers uri %s: %w", receivingAcct.FollowersURI, err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+	}
+
+	// Ensure we have stats for this account.
+	if receivingAcct.Stats == nil {
+		if err := p.state.DB.PopulateAccountStats(ctx, receivingAcct); err != nil {
+			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting stats for account %s: %w", receivingAcct.ID, err)
+			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	var obj vocab.Type
+
+	// Start the AS collection params.
+	var params ap.CollectionParams
+	params.ID = collectionID
+
+	switch {
+
+	case receivingAcct.IsInstance() ||
+		*receivingAcct.Settings.HideCollections:
+		// If account that hides collections, or instance
+		// account (ie., can't post / have relationships),
+		// just return barest stub of collection.
+		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollection(params)
+
+	case page == nil || auth.handshakingURI != nil:
+		// If paging disabled, or we're currently handshaking
+		// the requester, just return collection that links
+		// to first page (i.e. path below), with no items.
+		params.Total = util.Ptr(*receivingAcct.Stats.FollowersCount)
+		params.First = new(paging.Page)
+		params.Query = make(url.Values, 1)
+		params.Query.Set("limit", "40") // enables paging
+		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollection(params)
+
+	default:
+		// Paging enabled.
+		// Get page of full follower objects with attached accounts.
+		followers, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountFollowers(ctx, receivingAcct.ID, page)
 		if err != nil {
 			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting followers: %w", err)
 			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
@@ -178,6 +252,7 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowersGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 		}
 
 		// Start building AS collection page params.
+		params.Total = util.Ptr(*receivingAcct.Stats.FollowersCount)
 		var pageParams ap.CollectionPageParams
 		pageParams.CollectionParams = params
 
@@ -210,7 +285,7 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowersGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollectionPage(pageParams)
 	}
 
-	// Serialized the prepared object.
+	// Serialize the prepared object.
 	data, err := ap.Serialize(obj)
 	if err != nil {
 		err := gtserror.Newf("error serializing: %w", err)
@@ -220,26 +295,28 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowersGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 	return data, nil
 }
 
-// FollowingGet handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a user/account's following, performing appropriate
-// authentication before returning a JSON serializable interface to the caller.
+// FollowingGet returns the serialized ActivityPub
+// collection of a local account's following collection,
+// which contains links to accounts followed by this account.
 func (p *Processor) FollowingGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page *paging.Page) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
-	// Authenticate the incoming request, getting related user accounts.
-	_, receiver, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
+	// Authenticate incoming request, getting related accounts.
+	auth, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
 		return nil, errWithCode
 	}
+	receivingAcct := auth.receivingAcct
 
 	// Parse collection ID from account's following URI.
-	collectionID, err := url.Parse(receiver.FollowingURI)
+	collectionID, err := url.Parse(receivingAcct.FollowingURI)
 	if err != nil {
-		err := gtserror.Newf("error parsing account following uri %s: %w", receiver.FollowingURI, err)
+		err := gtserror.Newf("error parsing account following uri %s: %w", receivingAcct.FollowingURI, err)
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 	}
 
 	// Ensure we have stats for this account.
-	if receiver.Stats == nil {
-		if err := p.state.DB.PopulateAccountStats(ctx, receiver); err != nil {
-			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting stats for account %s: %w", receiver.ID, err)
+	if receivingAcct.Stats == nil {
+		if err := p.state.DB.PopulateAccountStats(ctx, receivingAcct); err != nil {
+			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting stats for account %s: %w", receivingAcct.ID, err)
 			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -249,28 +326,29 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowingGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 	// Start AS collection params.
 	var params ap.CollectionParams
 	params.ID = collectionID
-	params.Total = *receiver.Stats.FollowingCount
 
 	switch {
-	case receiver.IsInstance() ||
-		*receiver.Settings.HideCollections:
-		// Instance account (can't follow/be followed),
-		// or an account that hides followers/following.
-		// Respect this by just returning totalItems.
+	case receivingAcct.IsInstance() ||
+		*receivingAcct.Settings.HideCollections:
+		// If account that hides collections, or instance
+		// account (ie., can't post / have relationships),
+		// just return barest stub of collection.
 		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollection(params)
 
-	case page == nil:
-		// i.e. paging disabled, return collection
-		// that links to first page (i.e. path below).
+	case page == nil || auth.handshakingURI != nil:
+		// If paging disabled, or we're currently handshaking
+		// the requester, just return collection that links
+		// to first page (i.e. path below), with no items.
+		params.Total = util.Ptr(*receivingAcct.Stats.FollowingCount)
 		params.First = new(paging.Page)
 		params.Query = make(url.Values, 1)
 		params.Query.Set("limit", "40") // enables paging
 		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollection(params)
 
 	default:
-		// i.e. paging enabled
-		// Get the request page of full follower objects with attached accounts.
-		follows, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountFollows(ctx, receiver.ID, page)
+		// Paging enabled.
+		// Get page of full follower objects with attached accounts.
+		follows, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountFollows(ctx, receivingAcct.ID, page)
 		if err != nil {
 			err := gtserror.Newf("error getting follows: %w", err)
 			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
@@ -287,6 +365,7 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowingGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 		}
 
 		// Start AS collection page params.
+		params.Total = util.Ptr(*receivingAcct.Stats.FollowingCount)
 		var pageParams ap.CollectionPageParams
 		pageParams.CollectionParams = params
 
@@ -319,7 +398,7 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowingGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 		obj = ap.NewASOrderedCollectionPage(pageParams)
 	}
 
-	// Serialized the prepared object.
+	// Serialize the prepared object.
 	data, err := ap.Serialize(obj)
 	if err != nil {
 		err := gtserror.Newf("error serializing: %w", err)
@@ -332,20 +411,21 @@ func (p *Processor) FollowingGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, page
 // FeaturedCollectionGet returns an ordered collection of the requested username's Pinned posts.
 // The returned collection have an `items` property which contains an ordered list of status URIs.
 func (p *Processor) FeaturedCollectionGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
-	// Authenticate the incoming request, getting related user accounts.
-	_, receiver, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
+	// Authenticate incoming request, getting related accounts.
+	auth, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
 		return nil, errWithCode
 	}
+	receivingAcct := auth.receivingAcct
 
-	statuses, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountPinnedStatuses(ctx, receiver.ID)
+	statuses, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountPinnedStatuses(ctx, receivingAcct.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		if !errors.Is(err, db.ErrNoEntries) {
 			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	collection, err := p.converter.StatusesToASFeaturedCollection(ctx, receiver.FeaturedCollectionURI, statuses)
+	collection, err := p.converter.StatusesToASFeaturedCollection(ctx, receivingAcct.FeaturedCollectionURI, statuses)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/processing/fedi/common.go b/internal/processing/fedi/common.go
index a02779e73..1a4d38bc1 100644
--- a/internal/processing/fedi/common.go
+++ b/internal/processing/fedi/common.go
@@ -20,55 +20,64 @@ package fedi
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"net/url"
 
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 )
 
-func (p *Processor) authenticate(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string) (
-	*gtsmodel.Account, // requester: i.e. user making the request
-	*gtsmodel.Account, // receiver: i.e. the receiving inbox user
-	gtserror.WithCode,
-) {
+type commonAuth struct {
+	handshakingURI *url.URL          // Set to requestingAcct's URI if we're currently handshaking them.
+	requestingAcct *gtsmodel.Account // Remote account making request to this instance.
+	receivingAcct  *gtsmodel.Account // Local account receiving the request.
+}
+
+func (p *Processor) authenticate(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string) (*commonAuth, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// First get the requested (receiving) LOCAL account with username from database.
 	receiver, err := p.state.DB.GetAccountByUsernameDomain(ctx, requestedUser, "")
 	if err != nil {
 		if !errors.Is(err, db.ErrNoEntries) {
 			// Real db error.
 			err = gtserror.Newf("db error getting account %s: %w", requestedUser, err)
-			return nil, nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 		}
 
 		// Account just not found in the db.
-		return nil, nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(err)
 	}
 
 	// Ensure request signed, and use signature URI to
 	// get requesting account, dereferencing if necessary.
 	pubKeyAuth, errWithCode := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx, requestedUser)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
-		return nil, nil, errWithCode
+		return nil, errWithCode
 	}
 
 	if pubKeyAuth.Handshaking {
-		// This should happen very rarely, we are in the middle of handshaking.
-		err := gtserror.Newf("network race handshaking %s", pubKeyAuth.OwnerURI)
-		return nil, nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+		// We're still handshaking so we
+		// don't know the requester yet.
+		return &commonAuth{
+			handshakingURI: pubKeyAuth.OwnerURI,
+			receivingAcct:  receiver,
+		}, nil
 	}
 
 	// Get requester from auth.
 	requester := pubKeyAuth.Owner
 
-	// Check that block does not exist between receiver and requester.
+	// Ensure block does not exist between receiver and requester.
 	blocked, err := p.state.DB.IsEitherBlocked(ctx, receiver.ID, requester.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		err := gtserror.Newf("error checking block: %w", err)
-		return nil, nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 	} else if blocked {
 		const text = "block exists between accounts"
-		return nil, nil, gtserror.NewErrorForbidden(errors.New(text))
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorForbidden(errors.New(text))
 	}
 
-	return requester, receiver, nil
+	return &commonAuth{
+		requestingAcct: requester,
+		receivingAcct:  receiver,
+	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/processing/fedi/status.go b/internal/processing/fedi/status.go
index c6d611eee..7c4d4beec 100644
--- a/internal/processing/fedi/status.go
+++ b/internal/processing/fedi/status.go
@@ -30,23 +30,35 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/log"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/paging"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // StatusGet handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a local status.
 // It performs appropriate authentication before returning a JSON serializable interface.
 func (p *Processor) StatusGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, statusID string) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
-	// Authenticate the incoming request, getting related user accounts.
-	requester, receiver, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
+	// Authenticate incoming request, getting related accounts.
+	auth, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
 		return nil, errWithCode
 	}
 
+	if auth.handshakingURI != nil {
+		// We're currently handshaking, which means
+		// we don't know this account yet. This should
+		// be a very rare race condition.
+		err := gtserror.Newf("network race handshaking %s", auth.handshakingURI)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+	}
+
+	receivingAcct := auth.receivingAcct
+	requestingAcct := auth.requestingAcct
+
 	status, err := p.state.DB.GetStatusByID(ctx, statusID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(err)
 	}
 
-	if status.AccountID != receiver.ID {
+	if status.AccountID != receivingAcct.ID {
 		const text = "status does not belong to receiving account"
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(errors.New(text))
 	}
@@ -56,7 +68,7 @@ func (p *Processor) StatusGet(ctx context.Context, requestedUser string, statusI
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(errors.New(text))
 	}
 
-	visible, err := p.filter.StatusVisible(ctx, requester, status)
+	visible, err := p.filter.StatusVisible(ctx, requestingAcct, status)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 	}
@@ -90,15 +102,26 @@ func (p *Processor) StatusRepliesGet(
 	page *paging.Page,
 	onlyOtherAccounts bool,
 ) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
-	// Authenticate the incoming request, getting related user accounts.
-	requester, receiver, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
+	// Authenticate incoming request, getting related accounts.
+	auth, errWithCode := p.authenticate(ctx, requestedUser)
 	if errWithCode != nil {
 		return nil, errWithCode
 	}
 
+	if auth.handshakingURI != nil {
+		// We're currently handshaking, which means
+		// we don't know this account yet. This should
+		// be a very rare race condition.
+		err := gtserror.Newf("network race handshaking %s", auth.handshakingURI)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
+	}
+
+	receivingAcct := auth.receivingAcct
+	requestingAcct := auth.requestingAcct
+
 	// Get target status and ensure visible to requester.
 	status, errWithCode := p.c.GetVisibleTargetStatus(ctx,
-		requester,
+		requestingAcct,
 		statusID,
 		nil, // default freshness
 	)
@@ -107,7 +130,7 @@ func (p *Processor) StatusRepliesGet(
 	}
 
 	// Ensure status is by receiving account.
-	if status.AccountID != receiver.ID {
+	if status.AccountID != receivingAcct.ID {
 		const text = "status does not belong to receiving account"
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(errors.New(text))
 	}
@@ -140,7 +163,7 @@ func (p *Processor) StatusRepliesGet(
 	}
 
 	// Reslice replies dropping all those invisible to requester.
-	replies, err = p.filter.StatusesVisible(ctx, requester, replies)
+	replies, err = p.filter.StatusesVisible(ctx, requestingAcct, replies)
 	if err != nil {
 		err := gtserror.Newf("error filtering status replies: %w", err)
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
@@ -151,7 +174,7 @@ func (p *Processor) StatusRepliesGet(
 	// Start AS collection params.
 	var params ap.CollectionParams
 	params.ID = collectionID
-	params.Total = len(replies)
+	params.Total = util.Ptr(len(replies))
 
 	if page == nil {
 		// i.e. paging disabled, return collection
diff --git a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go
index a795541d0..2fb782029 100644
--- a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go
+++ b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go
@@ -1560,39 +1560,6 @@ func (c *Converter) StatusesToASOutboxPage(ctx context.Context, outboxID string,
 	return page, nil
 }
 
-// OutboxToASCollection returns an ordered collection with appropriate id, next, and last fields.
-// The returned collection won't have any actual entries; just links to where entries can be obtained.
-// we want something that looks like this:
-//
-//	{
-//		"@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
-//		"id": "https://example.org/users/whatever/outbox",
-//		"type": "OrderedCollection",
-//		"first": "https://example.org/users/whatever/outbox?page=true"
-//	}
-func (c *Converter) OutboxToASCollection(ctx context.Context, outboxID string) (vocab.ActivityStreamsOrderedCollection, error) {
-	collection := streams.NewActivityStreamsOrderedCollection()
-
-	collectionIDProp := streams.NewJSONLDIdProperty()
-	outboxIDURI, err := url.Parse(outboxID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error parsing url %s", outboxID)
-	}
-	collectionIDProp.SetIRI(outboxIDURI)
-	collection.SetJSONLDId(collectionIDProp)
-
-	collectionFirstProp := streams.NewActivityStreamsFirstProperty()
-	collectionFirstPropID := fmt.Sprintf("%s?page=true", outboxID)
-	collectionFirstPropIDURI, err := url.Parse(collectionFirstPropID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error parsing url %s", collectionFirstPropID)
-	}
-	collectionFirstProp.SetIRI(collectionFirstPropIDURI)
-	collection.SetActivityStreamsFirst(collectionFirstProp)
-
-	return collection, nil
-}
-
 // StatusesToASFeaturedCollection converts a slice of statuses into an ordered collection
 // of URIs, suitable for serializing and serving via the activitypub API.
 func (c *Converter) StatusesToASFeaturedCollection(ctx context.Context, featuredCollectionID string, statuses []*gtsmodel.Status) (vocab.ActivityStreamsOrderedCollection, error) {
diff --git a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go
index 740938220..26e86c516 100644
--- a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go
+++ b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go
@@ -366,27 +366,6 @@ func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestAccountToASWithSharedInbox() {
 }`, trimmed)
 }
 
-func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestOutboxToASCollection() {
-	testAccount := suite.testAccounts["admin_account"]
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
-	collection, err := suite.typeconverter.OutboxToASCollection(ctx, testAccount.OutboxURI)
-	suite.NoError(err)
-
-	ser, err := ap.Serialize(collection)
-	suite.NoError(err)
-
-	bytes, err := json.MarshalIndent(ser, "", "  ")
-	suite.NoError(err)
-
-	suite.Equal(`{
-  "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams",
-  "first": "http://localhost:8080/users/admin/outbox?page=true",
-  "id": "http://localhost:8080/users/admin/outbox",
-  "type": "OrderedCollection"
-}`, string(bytes))
-}
-
 func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestStatusToAS() {
 	testStatus := suite.testStatuses["local_account_1_status_1"]
 	ctx := context.Background()
diff --git a/testrig/testmodels.go b/testrig/testmodels.go
index e1d99fed8..e3d31b7d2 100644
--- a/testrig/testmodels.go
+++ b/testrig/testmodels.go
@@ -3227,7 +3227,7 @@ func NewTestDereferenceRequests(accounts map[string]*gtsmodel.Account) map[strin
 		DateHeader:      date,
 	}
 
-	target = URLMustParse(accounts["local_account_1"].OutboxURI + "?page=true")
+	target = URLMustParse(accounts["local_account_1"].OutboxURI + "?limit=40")
 	sig, digest, date = GetSignatureForDereference(accounts["remote_account_1"].PublicKeyURI, accounts["remote_account_1"].PrivateKey, target)
 	fossSatanDereferenceZorkOutboxFirst := ActivityWithSignature{
 		SignatureHeader: sig,
@@ -3235,7 +3235,7 @@ func NewTestDereferenceRequests(accounts map[string]*gtsmodel.Account) map[strin
 		DateHeader:      date,
 	}
 
-	target = URLMustParse(accounts["local_account_1"].OutboxURI + "?page=true&max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY")
+	target = URLMustParse(accounts["local_account_1"].OutboxURI + "?limit=40&max_id=01F8MHAMCHF6Y650WCRSCP4WMY")
 	sig, digest, date = GetSignatureForDereference(accounts["remote_account_1"].PublicKeyURI, accounts["remote_account_1"].PrivateKey, target)
 	fossSatanDereferenceZorkOutboxNext := ActivityWithSignature{
 		SignatureHeader: sig,