diff --git a/crates/application/src/services/federation_event.rs b/crates/application/src/services/federation_event.rs
index 7c748e6..540d975 100644
--- a/crates/application/src/services/federation_event.rs
+++ b/crates/application/src/services/federation_event.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use domain::{
     errors::DomainError,
     events::DomainEvent,
+    models::thought::Visibility,
     ports::{OutboundFederationPort, ThoughtRepository, UserRepository},
 };
 
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ impl FederationEventService {
         match event {
             DomainEvent::ThoughtCreated { thought_id, user_id, .. } => {
                 let thought = match self.thoughts.find_by_id(thought_id).await? {
-                    Some(t) if t.local => t,
+                    Some(t) if t.local && matches!(t.visibility, Visibility::Public | Visibility::Unlisted) => t,
                     _ => return Ok(()),
                 };
                 let user = match self.users.find_by_id(user_id).await? {
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ impl FederationEventService {
 
             DomainEvent::ThoughtUpdated { thought_id, user_id } => {
                 let thought = match self.thoughts.find_by_id(thought_id).await? {
-                    Some(t) if t.local => t,
+                    Some(t) if t.local && matches!(t.visibility, Visibility::Public | Visibility::Unlisted) => t,
                     _ => return Ok(()),
                 };
                 let user = match self.users.find_by_id(user_id).await? {
@@ -265,6 +266,56 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(announced[0], "https://mastodon.social/users/bob/statuses/123");
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn direct_thought_created_does_not_broadcast() {
+        let store = TestStore::default();
+        let alice = alice();
+        let thought = Thought::new_local(
+            ThoughtId::new(), alice.id.clone(),
+            Content::new_local("private").unwrap(),
+            None, Visibility::Direct, None, false,
+        );
+        store.users.lock().unwrap().push(alice.clone());
+        store.thoughts.lock().unwrap().push(thought.clone());
+
+        let spy = Arc::new(SpyPort::default());
+        svc(&store, spy.clone())
+            .process(&DomainEvent::ThoughtCreated {
+                thought_id: thought.id.clone(),
+                user_id: alice.id.clone(),
+                in_reply_to_id: None,
+            })
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(spy.created.lock().unwrap().is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn followers_only_thought_does_not_broadcast_publicly() {
+        let store = TestStore::default();
+        let alice = alice();
+        let thought = Thought::new_local(
+            ThoughtId::new(), alice.id.clone(),
+            Content::new_local("for followers").unwrap(),
+            None, Visibility::Followers, None, false,
+        );
+        store.users.lock().unwrap().push(alice.clone());
+        store.thoughts.lock().unwrap().push(thought.clone());
+
+        let spy = Arc::new(SpyPort::default());
+        svc(&store, spy.clone())
+            .process(&DomainEvent::ThoughtCreated {
+                thought_id: thought.id.clone(),
+                user_id: alice.id.clone(),
+                in_reply_to_id: None,
+            })
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(spy.created.lock().unwrap().is_empty());
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn unrelated_events_are_noop() {
         let store = TestStore::default();