diff --git a/config/defaults.toml b/config/defaults.toml
index 83f7333..341c32f 100644
--- a/config/defaults.toml
+++ b/config/defaults.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Whether users can create new accounts
 registration_open = true
 
+# Whether admins need to approve new articles
+article_approval = false
+
 # Details about the PostgreSQL database connection
 [database]
 # Database connection url
diff --git a/migrations/2024-11-12-131724_article-approval/down.sql b/migrations/2024-11-12-131724_article-approval/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbe1f23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2024-11-12-131724_article-approval/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+alter table article drop column approved;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/migrations/2024-11-12-131724_article-approval/up.sql b/migrations/2024-11-12-131724_article-approval/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2d63ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2024-11-12-131724_article-approval/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+alter table article add column approved bool not null default true;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/backend/api/article.rs b/src/backend/api/article.rs
index cc7fa03..dc99d64 100644
--- a/src/backend/api/article.rs
+++ b/src/backend/api/article.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use super::check_is_admin;
 use crate::{
     backend::{
         database::{
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ use crate::{
         utils::{extract_domain, http_protocol_str},
         validation::can_edit_article,
         ApiConflict,
+        ApproveArticleForm,
         ArticleView,
         CreateArticleForm,
         DbArticle,
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ pub(in crate::backend::api) async fn create_article(
         instance_id: local_instance.id,
         local: true,
         protected: false,
+        approved: !data.config.article_approval,
     };
     let article = DbArticle::create(form, &data)?;
 
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ pub(in crate::backend::api) async fn fork_article(
         instance_id: local_instance.id,
         local: true,
         protected: false,
+        approved: data.config.article_approval,
     };
     let article = DbArticle::create(form, &data)?;
 
@@ -278,10 +282,31 @@ pub(in crate::backend::api) async fn protect_article(
     data: Data<IbisData>,
     Form(lock_params): Form<ProtectArticleForm>,
 ) -> MyResult<Json<DbArticle>> {
-    if !user.local_user.admin {
-        return Err(anyhow!("Only admin can lock articles").into());
-    }
+    check_is_admin(&user)?;
     let article =
         DbArticle::update_protected(lock_params.article_id, lock_params.protected, &data)?;
     Ok(Json(article))
 }
+
+/// Get a list of all unresolved edit conflicts.
+#[debug_handler]
+pub async fn list_approval_required(
+    Extension(user): Extension<LocalUserView>,
+    data: Data<IbisData>,
+) -> MyResult<Json<Vec<DbArticle>>> {
+    check_is_admin(&user)?;
+    let articles = DbArticle::list_approval_required(&data)?;
+    Ok(Json(articles))
+}
+
+/// Get a list of all unresolved edit conflicts.
+#[debug_handler]
+pub async fn approve_article(
+    Extension(user): Extension<LocalUserView>,
+    data: Data<IbisData>,
+    Form(approve_params): Form<ApproveArticleForm>,
+) -> MyResult<Json<DbArticle>> {
+    check_is_admin(&user)?;
+    let article = DbArticle::update_approved(approve_params.article_id, true, &data)?;
+    Ok(Json(article))
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/api/mod.rs b/src/backend/api/mod.rs
index ac6f364..24f4cba 100644
--- a/src/backend/api/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/api/mod.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ use crate::{
     common::{ApiConflict, LocalUserView},
 };
 use activitypub_federation::config::Data;
+use anyhow::anyhow;
+use article::{approve_article, list_approval_required};
 use axum::{
     body::Body,
     http::{Request, StatusCode},
@@ -57,6 +59,11 @@ pub fn api_routes() -> Router<()> {
         .route("/article/fork", post(fork_article))
         .route("/article/resolve", get(resolve_article))
         .route("/article/protect", post(protect_article))
+        .route(
+            "/article/list/approval_required",
+            get(list_approval_required),
+        )
+        .route("/article/approve", post(approve_article))
         .route("/edit_conflicts", get(edit_conflicts))
         .route("/instance", get(get_instance))
         .route("/instance/follow", post(follow_instance))
@@ -86,6 +93,13 @@ async fn auth(
     Ok(response)
 }
 
+fn check_is_admin(user: &LocalUserView) -> MyResult<()> {
+    if !user.local_user.admin {
+        return Err(anyhow!("Only admin can perform this action").into());
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Get a list of all unresolved edit conflicts.
 #[debug_handler]
 async fn edit_conflicts(
diff --git a/src/backend/config.rs b/src/backend/config.rs
index 3f51ccf..5015e3a 100644
--- a/src/backend/config.rs
+++ b/src/backend/config.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ pub struct IbisConfig {
     #[default = true]
     #[doku(example = "true")]
     pub registration_open: bool,
+    /// Whether admins need to approve new articles
+    #[default = false]
+    #[doku(example = "false")]
+    pub article_approval: bool,
     /// Details of the initial admin account
     pub setup: IbisConfigSetup,
     pub federation: IbisConfigFederation,
diff --git a/src/backend/database/article.rs b/src/backend/database/article.rs
index 994fb75..1ad4567 100644
--- a/src/backend/database/article.rs
+++ b/src/backend/database/article.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pub struct DbArticleForm {
     pub instance_id: InstanceId,
     pub local: bool,
     pub protected: bool,
+    pub approved: bool,
 }
 
 // TODO: get rid of unnecessary methods
@@ -79,6 +80,13 @@ impl DbArticle {
             .get_result::<Self>(conn.deref_mut())?)
     }
 
+    pub fn update_approved(id: ArticleId, approved: bool, data: &IbisData) -> MyResult<Self> {
+        let mut conn = data.db_pool.get()?;
+        Ok(diesel::update(article::dsl::article.find(id))
+            .set(article::dsl::approved.eq(approved))
+            .get_result::<Self>(conn.deref_mut())?)
+    }
+
     pub fn read(id: ArticleId, data: &IbisData) -> MyResult<Self> {
         let mut conn = data.db_pool.get()?;
         Ok(article::table.find(id).get_result(conn.deref_mut())?)
@@ -152,6 +160,7 @@ impl DbArticle {
         let mut query = article::table
             .inner_join(edit::table)
             .inner_join(instance::table)
+            .filter(article::dsl::approved.eq(true))
             .group_by(article::dsl::id)
             .order_by(max(edit::dsl::created).desc())
             .select(article::all_columns)
@@ -196,4 +205,17 @@ impl DbArticle {
             None => Ok(EditVersion::default()),
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn list_approval_required(data: &IbisData) -> MyResult<Vec<Self>> {
+        let mut conn = data.db_pool.get()?;
+        let query = article::table
+            .inner_join(edit::table)
+            .group_by(article::dsl::id)
+            .filter(article::dsl::approved.eq(false))
+            .order_by(max(edit::dsl::created).desc())
+            .select(article::all_columns)
+            .into_boxed();
+
+        Ok(query.get_results(&mut conn)?)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/database/schema.rs b/src/backend/database/schema.rs
index 727bfd0..1affb5a 100644
--- a/src/backend/database/schema.rs
+++ b/src/backend/database/schema.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ diesel::table! {
         instance_id -> Int4,
         local -> Bool,
         protected -> Bool,
+        approved -> Bool,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/federation/objects/article.rs b/src/backend/federation/objects/article.rs
index 84d4503..51d52a2 100644
--- a/src/backend/federation/objects/article.rs
+++ b/src/backend/federation/objects/article.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ impl Object for DbArticle {
             local: false,
             instance_id: instance.id,
             protected: json.protected,
+            approved: true,
         };
         let article = DbArticle::create_or_update(form, data)?;
 
diff --git a/src/backend/mod.rs b/src/backend/mod.rs
index 377af61..6a6e19a 100644
--- a/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ async fn setup(data: &Data<IbisData>) -> Result<(), Error> {
         instance_id: instance.id,
         local: true,
         protected: true,
+        approved: true,
     };
     let article = DbArticle::create(form, data)?;
     // also create an article so its included in most recently edited list
diff --git a/src/common/mod.rs b/src/common/mod.rs
index 2f01e83..6c47fef 100644
--- a/src/common/mod.rs
+++ b/src/common/mod.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub struct GetArticleForm {
     pub id: Option<ArticleId>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone)]
+#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct ListArticlesForm {
     pub only_local: Option<bool>,
     pub instance_id: Option<InstanceId>,
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ pub struct DbArticle {
     pub instance_id: InstanceId,
     pub local: bool,
     pub protected: bool,
+    pub approved: bool,
 }
 
 /// Represents a single change to the article.
@@ -214,6 +215,11 @@ pub struct ForkArticleForm {
     pub new_title: String,
 }
 
+#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize)]
+pub struct ApproveArticleForm {
+    pub article_id: ArticleId,
+}
+
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Debug)]
 pub struct GetInstance {
     pub id: Option<InstanceId>,
diff --git a/src/frontend/api.rs b/src/frontend/api.rs
index fc665f3..808c493 100644
--- a/src/frontend/api.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/api.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 use crate::{
     common::{
+        newtypes::ArticleId,
         utils::http_protocol_str,
         ApiConflict,
+        ApproveArticleForm,
         ArticleView,
         CreateArticleForm,
         DbArticle,
@@ -130,6 +132,22 @@ impl ApiClient {
         .await
     }
 
+    pub async fn list_articles_approval_required(&self) -> MyResult<Vec<DbArticle>> {
+        let req = self
+            .client
+            .get(self.request_endpoint("/api/v1/article/list/approval_required"));
+        handle_json_res(req).await
+    }
+
+    pub async fn approve_article(&self, article_id: ArticleId) -> MyResult<DbArticle> {
+        let form = ApproveArticleForm { article_id };
+        let req = self
+            .client
+            .post(self.request_endpoint("/api/v1/article/approve"))
+            .form(&form);
+        handle_json_res(req).await
+    }
+
     pub async fn search(&self, search_form: &SearchArticleForm) -> MyResult<Vec<DbArticle>> {
         self.get_query("/api/v1/search", Some(search_form)).await
     }
diff --git a/src/frontend/pages/user_profile.rs b/src/frontend/pages/user_profile.rs
index 660e6be..b9c24eb 100644
--- a/src/frontend/pages/user_profile.rs
+++ b/src/frontend/pages/user_profile.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ pub fn UserProfile() -> impl IntoView {
                     .get()
                     .map(|person: DbPerson| {
                         view! {
-                            <h1>{user_title(&person)}</h1>
+                            <h1 class="text-4xl font-bold font-serif my-6 grow flex-auto">{user_title(&person)}</h1>
                             <p>TODO: create actual user profile</p>
                         }
                     })
diff --git a/tests/common.rs b/tests/common.rs
index dcd2908..23b0266 100644
--- a/tests/common.rs
+++ b/tests/common.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 use ibis::{
     backend::{
-        config::{IbisConfig, IbisConfigDatabase, IbisConfigFederation},
+        config::{IbisConfig, IbisConfigDatabase, IbisConfigFederation, IbisConfigSetup},
         start,
     },
     common::RegisterUserForm,
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub struct TestData {
 }
 
 impl TestData {
-    pub async fn start() -> Self {
+    pub async fn start(article_approval: bool) -> Self {
         static INIT: Once = Once::new();
         INIT.call_once(|| {
             env_logger::builder()
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ impl TestData {
         }
 
         let (alpha, beta, gamma) = join!(
-            IbisInstance::start(alpha_db_path, port_alpha, "alpha"),
-            IbisInstance::start(beta_db_path, port_beta, "beta"),
-            IbisInstance::start(gamma_db_path, port_gamma, "gamma")
+            IbisInstance::start(alpha_db_path, port_alpha, "alpha", article_approval),
+            IbisInstance::start(beta_db_path, port_beta, "beta", article_approval),
+            IbisInstance::start(gamma_db_path, port_gamma, "gamma", article_approval)
         );
 
         Self { alpha, beta, gamma }
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ impl IbisInstance {
         })
     }
 
-    async fn start(db_path: String, port: i32, username: &str) -> Self {
+    async fn start(db_path: String, port: i32, username: &str, article_approval: bool) -> Self {
         let connection_url = format!("postgresql://ibis:password@/ibis?host={db_path}");
         let hostname = format!("127.0.0.1:{port}");
         let domain = format!("localhost:{port}");
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ impl IbisInstance {
                 domain: domain.clone(),
                 ..Default::default()
             },
+            article_approval,
             ..Default::default()
         };
         let client = ClientBuilder::new().cookie_store(true).build().unwrap();
diff --git a/tests/test.rs b/tests/test.rs
index adacdf3..b1215d3 100644
--- a/tests/test.rs
+++ b/tests/test.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use url::Url;
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_create_read_and_edit_local_article() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create article
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ async fn test_create_read_and_edit_local_article() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_create_duplicate_article() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create article
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ async fn test_create_duplicate_article() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_follow_instance() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // check initial state
     let alpha_user = data.alpha.my_profile().await?;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ async fn test_follow_instance() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_synchronize_articles() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create article on alpha
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ async fn test_synchronize_articles() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_edit_local_article() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     let beta_instance = data
         .alpha
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ async fn test_edit_local_article() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_edit_remote_article() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     let beta_id_on_alpha = data
         .alpha
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ async fn test_edit_remote_article() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_local_edit_conflict() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create new article
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ async fn test_local_edit_conflict() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_federated_edit_conflict() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     let beta_id_on_alpha = data
         .alpha
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ async fn test_federated_edit_conflict() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_overlapping_edits_no_conflict() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create new article
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ async fn test_overlapping_edits_no_conflict() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_fork_article() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create article
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ async fn test_fork_article() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_user_registration_login() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
     let username = "my_user";
     let password = "hunter2";
     let register_data = RegisterUserForm {
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ async fn test_user_registration_login() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_user_profile() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // Create an article and federate it, in order to federate the user who created it
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ async fn test_user_profile() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_lock_article() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // create article
     let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ async fn test_lock_article() -> MyResult<()> {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_synchronize_instances() -> MyResult<()> {
-    let data = TestData::start().await;
+    let data = TestData::start(false).await;
 
     // fetch alpha instance on beta
     data.beta
@@ -727,3 +727,45 @@ async fn test_synchronize_instances() -> MyResult<()> {
 
     data.stop()
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_article_approval_required() -> MyResult<()> {
+    let data = TestData::start(true).await;
+
+    // create article
+    let create_form = CreateArticleForm {
+        title: "Manu_Chao".to_string(),
+        text: TEST_ARTICLE_DEFAULT_TEXT.to_string(),
+        summary: "create article".to_string(),
+    };
+    let create_res = data.alpha.create_article(&create_form).await?;
+    assert!(!create_res.article.approved);
+
+    let list_all = data.alpha.list_articles(Default::default()).await?;
+    assert_eq!(1, list_all.len());
+    assert!(list_all.iter().all(|a| a.id != create_res.article.id));
+
+    // login as admin to handle approvals
+    let form = LoginUserForm {
+        username: "ibis".to_string(),
+        password: "ibis".to_string(),
+    };
+    data.alpha.login(form).await?;
+
+    let list_approval_required = data.alpha.list_articles_approval_required().await?;
+    assert_eq!(1, list_approval_required.len());
+    assert_eq!(create_res.article.id, list_approval_required[0].id);
+
+    let approve = data
+        .alpha
+        .approve_article(list_approval_required[0].id)
+        .await?;
+    assert_eq!(create_res.article.id, approve.id);
+    assert!(approve.approved);
+
+    let list_all = data.alpha.list_articles(Default::default()).await?;
+    assert_eq!(2, list_all.len());
+    assert!(list_all.iter().any(|a| a.id == create_res.article.id));
+
+    data.stop()
+}