diff --git a/nitter.example.conf b/nitter.example.conf
index 95802e8..2e3d6df 100644
--- a/nitter.example.conf
+++ b/nitter.example.conf
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ enableDebug = false  # enable request logs and debug endpoints (/.sessions)
 logLevel = "info"  # log level (debug, info, warn, error, fatal)
 proxy = ""  # http/https url, SOCKS proxies are not supported
 proxyAuth = ""
+defaultFollowedAccounts = "eff,fsf" # default accounts to show when user follows none
 
 # Change default preferences here, see src/prefs_impl.nim for a complete list
 [Preferences]
diff --git a/src/config.nim b/src/config.nim
index 7325a65..f48ad8a 100644
--- a/src/config.nim
+++ b/src/config.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 import parsecfg except Config
-import types, strutils
+import types, strutils, sequtils
 
 proc get*[T](config: parseCfg.Config; section, key: string; default: T): T =
   let val = config.getSectionValue(section, key)
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ proc get*[T](config: parseCfg.Config; section, key: string; default: T): T =
   when T is int: parseInt(val)
   elif T is bool: parseBool(val)
   elif T is string: val
+  elif T is seq[string]: val.split(',').mapIt(it.strip())
 
 proc getConfig*(path: string): (Config, parseCfg.Config) =
   var cfg = loadConfig(path)
@@ -41,7 +42,8 @@ proc getConfig*(path: string): (Config, parseCfg.Config) =
     enableDebug: cfg.get("Config", "enableDebug", false),
     logLevel: cfg.get("Config", "logLevel", ""),
     proxy: cfg.get("Config", "proxy", ""),
-    proxyAuth: cfg.get("Config", "proxyAuth", "")
+    proxyAuth: cfg.get("Config", "proxyAuth", ""),
+    defaultFollowedAccounts: cfg.get("Config", "defaultFollowedAccounts", @["eff", "fsf"])
   )
 
   return (conf, cfg)
diff --git a/src/nitter.nim b/src/nitter.nim
index f1d176f..e102600 100644
--- a/src/nitter.nim
+++ b/src/nitter.nim
@@ -101,22 +101,28 @@ routes:
   get "/":
     let prefs = cookiePrefs()
     
-    if prefs.following.len > 0:
+    if prefs.following.len > 0 or cfg.defaultFollowedAccounts.len > 0:
       let
         cursor = getCursor()
+        accounts = if prefs.following.len > 0: prefs.following else: cfg.defaultFollowedAccounts
+        isDefault = prefs.following.len == 0
+        currentPath = if @"f".len > 0: "/?f=" & @"f" else: "/"
       
       var homepageQuery = initQuery(params(request))
       if @"f".len == 0:
         homepageQuery.kind = tweets
       
-      homepageQuery.fromUser = prefs.following
+      homepageQuery.fromUser = accounts
       
       let
         timeline = await getGraphTweetSearch(homepageQuery, cursor)
-        html = renderHomepageTimeline(timeline, prefs, getPath())
+        html = if isDefault: 
+          renderDefaultTimeline(timeline, prefs, getPath())
+        else:
+          renderHomepageTimeline(timeline, prefs, getPath())
       
       var users: seq[User]
-      for username in prefs.following:
+      for username in accounts:
         try:
           let user = await getCachedUser(username)
           users.add(user)
@@ -127,7 +133,6 @@ routes:
         tdiv(class="following-column"):
           tdiv(class="profile-cards"):
             for user in users:
-              let currentPath = if @"f".len > 0: "/?f=" & @"f" else: "/"
               renderUserCard(user, prefs, currentPath)
         
         tdiv(class="timeline"):
diff --git a/src/sass/timeline.scss b/src/sass/timeline.scss
index 85c4be8..6b1992b 100644
--- a/src/sass/timeline.scss
+++ b/src/sass/timeline.scss
@@ -26,6 +26,25 @@
     button {
         float: unset;
     }
+
+    &.timeline-default {
+        background-color: var(--bg_panel);
+        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--bg_elements);
+        margin-bottom: 5px;
+
+        .timeline-default-message {
+            color: var(--fg_color);
+            font-size: 16px;
+            font-weight: normal;
+            margin: 0;
+            padding: 5px;
+
+            strong {
+                font-weight: bold;
+                color: var(--accent);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 .timeline-banner img {
diff --git a/src/types.nim b/src/types.nim
index fbd5f89..cb5ff7c 100644
--- a/src/types.nim
+++ b/src/types.nim
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ type
     logLevel*: string
     proxy*: string
     proxyAuth*: string
+    defaultFollowedAccounts*: seq[string]
 
     rssCacheTime*: int
     listCacheTime*: int
diff --git a/src/views/search.nim b/src/views/search.nim
index 4fb6d32..e88ae24 100644
--- a/src/views/search.nim
+++ b/src/views/search.nim
@@ -65,6 +65,19 @@ proc renderHomepageTimeline*(results: Timeline; prefs: Prefs; path: string): VNo
     
     renderTimelineTweets(results, prefs, path)
 
+proc renderDefaultTimeline*(results: Timeline; prefs: Prefs; path: string): VNode =
+  let query = results.query
+  buildHtml(tdiv(class="timeline-container")):
+    tdiv(class="timeline-header timeline-default"):
+      h2(class="timeline-default-message"):
+        text "Follow people to populate your "
+        strong: text "own"
+        text " feed"
+    
+    renderHomepageTabs(query)
+    
+    renderTimelineTweets(results, prefs, path)
+
 proc renderUserSearch*(results: Result[User]; prefs: Prefs; path: string): VNode =
   buildHtml(tdiv(class="timeline-container")):
     renderSearchTabs(results.query)