diff --git a/client/lib/aethex-social-service.ts b/client/lib/aethex-social-service.ts
index 6918ce6e..0d754836 100644
--- a/client/lib/aethex-social-service.ts
+++ b/client/lib/aethex-social-service.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { supabase } from "./supabase";
 
+import { supabase } from "./supabase";
+
 export const aethexSocialService = {
   async listRecommended(userId: string, limit = 10) {
     try {
@@ -7,15 +9,18 @@ export const aethexSocialService = {
         .from("user_profiles")
         .select("id, username, full_name, avatar_url, bio")
         .neq("id", userId)
+        .order("updated_at", { ascending: false })
         .limit(limit);
-      if (!error && data) return data as any[];
-    } catch {}
-    try {
-      const raw = localStorage.getItem("demo_profiles");
-      const profiles = raw ? JSON.parse(raw) : [];
-      return profiles.filter((p: any) => p.id !== userId).slice(0, limit);
-    } catch {
-      return [] as any[];
+
+      if (error) {
+        console.error("Failed to load recommended profiles:", error);
+        return [];
+      }
+
+      return (data || []) as any[];
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Unexpected error loading recommended profiles:", error);
+      return [];
     }
   },
 
@@ -25,49 +30,39 @@ export const aethexSocialService = {
         .from("user_follows")
         .select("following_id")
         .eq("follower_id", userId);
-      if (!error && data)
-        return (data as any[]).map((r: any) => r.following_id);
-    } catch {}
-    try {
-      const raw = localStorage.getItem("mock_follows");
-      const map = raw ? JSON.parse(raw) : {};
-      return map[userId] || [];
-    } catch {}
-    return [];
+
+      if (error) {
+        console.error("Failed to load following list:", error);
+        return [];
+      }
+
+      return (data as any[]).map((r: any) => r.following_id);
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Unexpected error loading following list:", error);
+      return [];
+    }
   },
 
   async followUser(followerId: string, followingId: string): Promise<void> {
-    try {
-      const { error } = await supabase.from("user_follows").insert({
-        follower_id: followerId,
-        following_id: followingId,
-      });
-      if (!error) return;
-    } catch {}
-    const raw = localStorage.getItem("mock_follows");
-    const map = raw ? JSON.parse(raw) : {};
-    const set: string[] = Array.from(
-      new Set([...(map[followerId] || []), followingId]),
-    );
-    map[followerId] = set;
-    localStorage.setItem("mock_follows", JSON.stringify(map));
+    const { error } = await supabase.from("user_follows").insert({
+      follower_id: followerId,
+      following_id: followingId,
+    });
+
+    if (error) {
+      throw new Error(error.message || "Unable to follow user");
+    }
   },
 
   async unfollowUser(followerId: string, followingId: string): Promise<void> {
-    try {
-      await supabase
-        .from("user_follows")
-        .delete()
-        .eq("follower_id", followerId)
-        .eq("following_id", followingId);
-      return;
-    } catch {}
-    const raw = localStorage.getItem("mock_follows");
-    const map = raw ? JSON.parse(raw) : {};
-    const list: string[] = (map[followerId] || []).filter(
-      (id: string) => id !== followingId,
-    );
-    map[followerId] = list;
-    localStorage.setItem("mock_follows", JSON.stringify(map));
+    const { error } = await supabase
+      .from("user_follows")
+      .delete()
+      .eq("follower_id", followerId)
+      .eq("following_id", followingId);
+
+    if (error) {
+      throw new Error(error.message || "Unable to unfollow user");
+    }
   },
 };