diff --git a/dbTools/post.js b/dbTools/post.js
index d6cf297..7d82ceb 100644
--- a/dbTools/post.js
+++ b/dbTools/post.js
@@ -134,10 +134,10 @@ postDB = (DB)=>{
                 filteredPosts.push(p);
                 continue;
             }
-            if(isPostingAPrivateGroup && !following[p.profileid + ""]){
+            if(isPostingAPrivateGroup && !following[p.profileid]){
                 continue;
             }
-            if(isPostingToAPrivateGroup && !following[p.toProfile + ""]){
+            if(isPostingToAPrivateGroup && !following[p.toProfile]){
                 continue;
             }
             filteredPosts.push(p);
diff --git a/dbTools/profile.js b/dbTools/profile.js
index 64e7a6c..9d186c4 100644
--- a/dbTools/profile.js
+++ b/dbTools/profile.js
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ userDB = (DB) => {
         const _id = DB.ObjectID(profileId);
         let update = {
             $addToSet:{
-                following: followProfileId
+                following: followProfileId + '' //converts to str
             }            
         }
         return DB.profileCols.updateOne({_id}, update).catch((err)=>{
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ userDB = (DB) => {
         const _id = DB.ObjectID(profileId);
         let update = {
             $pull:{
-                following: followProfileId
+                following: followProfileId + '' //converts to str
             }            
         }
         return DB.profileCols.updateOne({_id}, update).catch((err)=>{