diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/getting_started/index.js b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/getting_started/index.js
index 0077f193b..bf9fe118a 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/getting_started/index.js
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/getting_started/index.js
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import ImmutablePropTypes from 'react-immutable-proptypes';
 import ImmutablePureComponent from 'react-immutable-pure-component';
 import { me } from 'flavours/glitch/util/initial_state';
+import { fetchFollowRequests } from 'flavours/glitch/actions/accounts';
+import { List as ImmutableList } from 'immutable';
 import { createSelector } from 'reselect';
 import { fetchLists } from 'flavours/glitch/actions/lists';
 
@@ -45,13 +47,31 @@ const makeMapStateToProps = () => {
     lists: getOrderedLists(state),
     myAccount: state.getIn(['accounts', me]),
     columns: state.getIn(['settings', 'columns']),
+    unreadFollowRequests: state.getIn(['user_lists', 'follow_requests', 'items'], ImmutableList()).size,
+    unreadNotifications: state.getIn(['notifications', 'unread']),
   });
 
   return mapStateToProps;
 };
 
+const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
+  fetchFollowRequests: () => dispatch(fetchFollowRequests()),
+  fetchLists: () => dispatch(fetchLists()),
+  openSettings: () => dispatch(openModal('SETTINGS', {})),
+});
+
+const badgeDisplay = (number, limit) => {
+  if (number === 0) {
+    return undefined;
+  } else if (limit && number >= limit) {
+    return `${limit}+`;
+  } else {
+    return number;
+  }
+};
+
+@connect(makeMapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)
 @injectIntl
-@connect(makeMapStateToProps)
 export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
 
   static propTypes = {
@@ -59,25 +79,28 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     myAccount: ImmutablePropTypes.map.isRequired,
     columns: ImmutablePropTypes.list,
     multiColumn: PropTypes.bool,
-    dispatch: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    fetchFollowRequests: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    unreadFollowRequests: PropTypes.number,
+    unreadNotifications: PropTypes.number,
     lists: ImmutablePropTypes.list,
+    fetchLists: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    openSettings: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   };
 
-  openSettings = () => {
-    this.props.dispatch(openModal('SETTINGS', {}));
-  }
-
-  openOnboardingModal = (e) => {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    this.props.dispatch(openModal('ONBOARDING'));
-  }
-
   componentWillMount () {
-    this.props.dispatch(fetchLists());
+    this.props.fetchLists();
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount () {
+    const { myAccount, fetchFollowRequests } = this.props;
+
+    if (myAccount.get('locked')) {
+      fetchFollowRequests();
+    }
   }
 
   render () {
-    const { intl, myAccount, columns, multiColumn, lists } = this.props;
+    const { intl, myAccount, columns, multiColumn, unreadFollowRequests, unreadNotifications, lists, openSettings } = this.props;
 
     const navItems = [];
     let listItems = [];
@@ -88,7 +111,7 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
       }
 
       if (!columns.find(item => item.get('id') === 'NOTIFICATIONS')) {
-        navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='1' icon='bell' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.notifications)} to='/notifications' />);
+        navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='1' icon='bell' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.notifications)} badge={badgeDisplay(unreadNotifications)} to='/notifications' />);
       }
 
       if (!columns.find(item => item.get('id') === 'COMMUNITY')) {
@@ -105,7 +128,7 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     }
 
     if (myAccount.get('locked')) {
-      navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='5' icon='users' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.follow_requests)} to='/follow_requests' />);
+      navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='5' icon='users' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.follow_requests)} badge={badgeDisplay(unreadFollowRequests, 40)} to='/follow_requests' />);
     }
 
     navItems.push(<ColumnLink key='6' icon='ellipsis-h' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.misc)} to='/getting-started-misc' />);
@@ -129,7 +152,7 @@ export default class GettingStarted extends ImmutablePureComponent {
             {listItems}
             <ColumnSubheading text={intl.formatMessage(messages.settings_subheading)} />
             <ColumnLink icon='cog' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.preferences)} href='/settings/preferences' />
-            <ColumnLink icon='cogs' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.settings)} onClick={this.openSettings} />
+            <ColumnLink icon='cogs' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.settings)} onClick={openSettings} />
             <ColumnLink icon='sign-out' text={intl.formatMessage(messages.sign_out)} href='/auth/sign_out' method='delete' />
           </div>
 
diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/column_link.js b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/column_link.js
index b845d1895..b058aa963 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/column_link.js
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/column_link.js
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ import React from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
 
-const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, onClick, href, method }) => {
+const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, onClick, href, method, badge }) => {
+  const badgeElement = typeof badge !== 'undefined' ? <span className='column-link__badge'>{badge}</span> : null;
+
   if (href) {
     return (
       <a href={href} className='column-link' data-method={method}>
         <i className={`fa fa-fw fa-${icon} column-link__icon`} />
         {text}
+        {badgeElement}
       </a>
     );
   } else if (to) {
@@ -15,6 +18,7 @@ const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, onClick, href, method }) => {
       <Link to={to} className='column-link'>
         <i className={`fa fa-fw fa-${icon} column-link__icon`} />
         {text}
+        {badgeElement}
       </Link>
     );
   } else {
@@ -22,6 +26,7 @@ const ColumnLink = ({ icon, text, to, onClick, href, method }) => {
       <a onClick={onClick} className='column-link' role='button' tabIndex='0' data-method={method}>
         <i className={`fa fa-fw fa-${icon} column-link__icon`} />
         {text}
+        {badgeElement}
       </a>
     );
   }
@@ -34,6 +39,7 @@ ColumnLink.propTypes = {
   onClick: PropTypes.func,
   href: PropTypes.string,
   method: PropTypes.string,
+  badge: PropTypes.node,
 };
 
 export default ColumnLink;
diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components/index.scss b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components/index.scss
index 10cad345e..3d16c856d 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components/index.scss
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components/index.scss
@@ -753,6 +753,17 @@
   }
 }
 
+.column-link__badge {
+  display: inline-block;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  line-height: 19px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  background: $ui-base-color;
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  margin: -6px 10px;
+}
+
 .keyboard-shortcuts {
   padding: 8px 0 0;
   overflow: hidden;