diff --git a/services/gunDB/contact-api/actions.js b/services/gunDB/contact-api/actions.js
index 6522e6fa..e13d8989 100644
--- a/services/gunDB/contact-api/actions.js
+++ b/services/gunDB/contact-api/actions.js
@@ -1223,7 +1223,7 @@ const setLastSeenApp = () =>
  * @param {boolean} isPrivate
  * @returns {Promise<string>}
  */
-const follow = (publicKey, isPrivate = false) => {
+const follow = (publicKey, isPrivate) => {
   /** @type {import('shock-common').Schema.Follow} */
   const newFollow = {
     private: isPrivate,
diff --git a/src/routes.js b/src/routes.js
index a9251e51..3a041d8e 100644
--- a/src/routes.js
+++ b/src/routes.js
@@ -1873,7 +1873,7 @@ module.exports = async (
         throw new Error(`Missing publicKey route param.`)
       }
 
-      await GunActions.follow(req.params.publicKey, req.body.private || false)
+      await GunActions.follow(req.params.publicKey, false)
 
       // 201 would be extraneous here
       return res.status(200)