diff --git a/internal/apimodule/status/statuscreate.go b/internal/apimodule/status/statuscreate.go
index a309239..fbae673 100644
--- a/internal/apimodule/status/statuscreate.go
+++ b/internal/apimodule/status/statuscreate.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
@@ -34,6 +35,24 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/pkg/mastotypes"
 )
 
+type advancedStatusCreateForm struct {
+	mastotypes.StatusCreateRequest
+	AdvancedVisibility *advancedVisibilityFlagsForm `form:"visibility_advanced"`
+}
+
+type advancedVisibilityFlagsForm struct {
+	// The gotosocial visibility model
+	Visibility *model.Visibility
+	// This status will be federated beyond the local timeline(s)
+	Federated *bool `form:"federated"`
+	// This status can be boosted/reblogged
+	Boostable *bool `form:"boostable"`
+	// This status can be replied to
+	Replyable *bool `form:"replyable"`
+	// This status can be liked/faved
+	Likeable *bool `form:"likeable"`
+}
+
 func (m *statusModule) statusCreatePOSTHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	l := m.log.WithField("func", "statusCreatePOSTHandler")
 	authed, err := oauth.MustAuth(c, true, true, true, true) // posting a status is serious business so we want *everything*
@@ -51,7 +70,7 @@ func (m *statusModule) statusCreatePOSTHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 
 	l.Trace("parsing request form")
-	form := &mastotypes.StatusCreateRequest{}
+	form := &advancedStatusCreateForm{}
 	if err := c.ShouldBind(form); err != nil || form == nil {
 		l.Debugf("could not parse form from request: %s", err)
 		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "missing one or more required form values"})
@@ -65,6 +84,10 @@ func (m *statusModule) statusCreatePOSTHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// here we check if any advanced visibility flags have been set and fiddle with them if so
+	l.Trace("deriving visibility")
+	basicVis, advancedVis, err := deriveTotalVisibility(form.Visibility, form.AdvancedVisibility, authed.Account.Privacy)
+
 	clientIP := c.ClientIP()
 	l.Tracef("attempting to parse client ip address %s", clientIP)
 	signUpIP := net.ParseIP(clientIP)
@@ -75,23 +98,35 @@ func (m *statusModule) statusCreatePOSTHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 
 	uris := util.GenerateURIs(authed.Account.Username, m.config.Protocol, m.config.Host)
-	newStatusID := uuid.NewString()
+	thisStatusID := uuid.NewString()
+	thisStatusURI := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", uris.StatusesURI, thisStatusID)
+	thisStatusURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", uris.StatusesURL, thisStatusID)
 
 	newStatus := &model.Status{
-		ID:                  newStatusID,
-		URI:                 fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", uris.StatusesURI, newStatusID),
-		URL:                 fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", uris.StatusesURL, newStatusID),
+		ID:                  thisStatusID,
+		URI:                 thisStatusURI,
+		URL:                 thisStatusURL,
 		Content:             util.HTMLFormat(form.Status),
-		Local:               true, // will always be true if this status is being created through the client API
+		Local:               true, // will always be true if this status is being created through the client API, since only local users can do that
 		AccountID:           authed.Account.ID,
 		InReplyToID:         form.InReplyToID,
 		ContentWarning:      form.SpoilerText,
-		ActivityStreamsType: "Note",
+		Visibility:          basicVis,
+		VisibilityAdvanced:  *advancedVis,
+		ActivityStreamsType: model.ActivityStreamsNote,
+	}
+
+	// take care of side effects -- mentions, updating metadata, etc, etc
+	menchies, err := m.db.AccountStringsToMentions(util.DeriveMentions(form.Status), authed.Account.ID, thisStatusID)
+	if err != nil {
+		l.Debugf("error generating mentions from status: %s", err)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "error generating mentions from status"})
+		return
 	}
 
 }
 
-func validateCreateStatus(form *mastotypes.StatusCreateRequest, config *config.StatusesConfig, accountID string, db db.DB) error {
+func validateCreateStatus(form *advancedStatusCreateForm, config *config.StatusesConfig, accountID string, db db.DB) error {
 	// validate that, structurally, we have a valid status/post
 	if form.Status == "" && form.MediaIDs == nil && form.Poll == nil {
 		return errors.New("no status, media, or poll provided")
@@ -146,7 +181,7 @@ func validateCreateStatus(form *mastotypes.StatusCreateRequest, config *config.S
 		if err := db.GetByID(form.InReplyToID, s); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("status id %s cannot be retrieved from the db: %s", form.InReplyToID, err)
 		}
-		if !*s.VisibilityAdvanced.Replyable {
+		if !s.VisibilityAdvanced.Replyable {
 			return fmt.Errorf("status with id %s is not replyable", form.InReplyToID)
 		}
 	}
@@ -167,3 +202,80 @@ func validateCreateStatus(form *mastotypes.StatusCreateRequest, config *config.S
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+func deriveTotalVisibility(basicVisForm mastotypes.Visibility, advancedVisForm *advancedVisibilityFlagsForm, accountDefaultVis model.Visibility) (model.Visibility, *model.VisibilityAdvanced, error) {
+	// by default all flags are set to true
+	gtsAdvancedVis := &model.VisibilityAdvanced{
+		Federated: true,
+		Boostable: true,
+		Replyable: true,
+		Likeable:  true,
+	}
+
+	var gtsBasicVis model.Visibility
+	// Advanced takes priority if it's set.
+	// If it's not set, take whatever masto visibility is set.
+	// If *that's* not set either, then just take the account default.
+	if advancedVisForm != nil && advancedVisForm.Visibility != nil {
+		gtsBasicVis = *advancedVisForm.Visibility
+	} else if basicVisForm != "" {
+		gtsBasicVis = util.ParseGTSVisFromMastoVis(basicVisForm)
+	} else {
+		gtsBasicVis = accountDefaultVis
+	}
+
+	switch gtsBasicVis {
+	case model.VisibilityPublic:
+		// for public, there's no need to change any of the advanced flags from true regardless of what the user filled out
+		return gtsBasicVis, gtsAdvancedVis, nil
+	case model.VisibilityUnlocked:
+		// for unlocked the user can set any combination of flags they like so look at them all to see if they're set and then apply them
+		if advancedVisForm != nil {
+			if advancedVisForm.Federated != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Federated = *advancedVisForm.Federated
+			}
+
+			if advancedVisForm.Boostable != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Boostable = *advancedVisForm.Boostable
+			}
+
+			if advancedVisForm.Replyable != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Replyable = *advancedVisForm.Replyable
+			}
+
+			if advancedVisForm.Likeable != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Likeable = *advancedVisForm.Likeable
+			}
+		}
+		return gtsBasicVis, gtsAdvancedVis, nil
+	case model.VisibilityFollowersOnly, model.VisibilityMutualsOnly:
+		// for followers or mutuals only, boostable will *always* be false, but the other fields can be set so check and apply them
+		gtsAdvancedVis.Boostable = false
+
+		if advancedVisForm != nil {
+			if advancedVisForm.Federated != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Federated = *advancedVisForm.Federated
+			}
+
+			if advancedVisForm.Replyable != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Replyable = *advancedVisForm.Replyable
+			}
+
+			if advancedVisForm.Likeable != nil {
+				gtsAdvancedVis.Likeable = *advancedVisForm.Likeable
+			}
+		}
+
+		return gtsBasicVis, gtsAdvancedVis, nil
+	case model.VisibilityDirect:
+		// direct is pretty easy: there's only one possible setting so return it
+		gtsAdvancedVis.Federated = true
+		gtsAdvancedVis.Boostable = false
+		gtsAdvancedVis.Federated = true
+		gtsAdvancedVis.Likeable = true
+		return gtsBasicVis, gtsAdvancedVis, nil
+	}
+
+	// this should never happen but just in case...
+	return "", nil, errors.New("could not parse visibility")
+}
diff --git a/internal/db/db.go b/internal/db/db.go
index 4921270..9ab4139 100644
--- a/internal/db/db.go
+++ b/internal/db/db.go
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ type DB interface {
 	// In case of no entries, a 'no entries' error will be returned
 	GetWhere(key string, value interface{}, i interface{}) error
 
+	// // GetWhereMany gets one entry where key = value for *ALL* parameters passed as "where".
+	// // That is, if you pass 2 'where' entries, with 1 being Key username and Value test, and the second
+	// // being Key domain and Value example.org, only entries will be returned where BOTH conditions are true.
+	// GetWhereMany(i interface{}, where ...model.Where) error
+
 	// GetAll will try to get all entries of type i.
 	// The given interface i will be set to the result of the query, whatever it is. Use a pointer or a slice.
 	// In case of no entries, a 'no entries' error will be returned
@@ -182,6 +187,11 @@ type DB interface {
 	// if something goes wrong. The returned account should be ready to serialize on an API level, and may NOT have sensitive fields.
 	// In other words, this is the public record that the server has of an account.
 	AccountToMastoPublic(account *model.Account) (*mastotypes.Account, error)
+
+	// AccountStringsToMentions takes a slice of deduplicated account names in the form "@test@whatever.example.org", which have been
+	// mentioned in a status. It takes the id of the account that wrote the status, and the id of the status itself, and then
+	// checks in the database for the mentioned accounts, and returns a slice of mentions generated based on the given parameters.
+	AccountStringsToMentions(targetAccounts []string, originAccountID string, statusID string) ([]*model.Mention, error)
 }
 
 // New returns a new database service that satisfies the DB interface and, by extension,
diff --git a/internal/db/model/account.go b/internal/db/model/account.go
index 70ee929..70028be 100644
--- a/internal/db/model/account.go
+++ b/internal/db/model/account.go
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ type Account struct {
 	ID string `pg:"type:uuid,default:gen_random_uuid(),pk,notnull,unique"`
 	// Username of the account, should just be a string of [a-z0-9_]. Can be added to domain to create the full username in the form ``[username]@[domain]`` eg., ``user_96@example.org``
 	Username string `pg:",notnull,unique:userdomain"` // username and domain should be unique *with* each other
-	// Domain of the account, will be empty if this is a local account, otherwise something like ``example.org`` or ``mastodon.social``. Should be unique with username.
-	Domain string `pg:",unique:userdomain"` // username and domain should be unique *with* each other
+	// Domain of the account, will be null if this is a local account, otherwise something like ``example.org`` or ``mastodon.social``. Should be unique with username.
+	Domain string `pg:"default:null,unique:userdomain"` // username and domain should be unique *with* each other
 
 	/*
 		ACCOUNT METADATA
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ type Account struct {
 	// Should this account be shown in the instance's profile directory?
 	Discoverable bool
 	// Default post privacy for this account
-	Privacy string
+	Privacy Visibility
 	// Set posts from this account to sensitive by default?
 	Sensitive bool
 	// What language does this account post in?
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ type Account struct {
 	// URL for getting the featured collection list of this account
 	FeaturedCollectionURL string `pg:",unique"`
 	// What type of activitypub actor is this account?
-	ActorType string
+	ActorType ActivityStreamsActor
 	// This account is associated with x account id
 	AlsoKnownAs string
 
diff --git a/internal/db/model/activitystreams.go b/internal/db/model/activitystreams.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6c9df6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/db/model/activitystreams.go
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+/*
+   GoToSocial
+   Copyright (C) 2021 GoToSocial Authors admin@gotosocial.org
+
+   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+package model
+
+// ActivityStreamsObject refers to https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#object-types
+type ActivityStreamsObject string
+
+const (
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-article
+	ActivityStreamsArticle ActivityStreamsObject = "Article"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-audio
+	ActivityStreamsAudio ActivityStreamsObject = "Audio"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-document
+	ActivityStreamsDocument ActivityStreamsObject = "Event"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-event
+	ActivityStreamsEvent ActivityStreamsObject = "Event"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-image
+	ActivityStreamsImage ActivityStreamsObject = "Image"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-note
+	ActivityStreamsNote ActivityStreamsObject = "Note"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-page
+	ActivityStreamsPage ActivityStreamsObject = "Page"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-place
+	ActivityStreamsPlace ActivityStreamsObject = "Place"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-profile
+	ActivityStreamsProfile ActivityStreamsObject = "Profile"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-relationship
+	ActivityStreamsRelationship ActivityStreamsObject = "Relationship"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-tombstone
+	ActivityStreamsTombstone ActivityStreamsObject = "Tombstone"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-video
+	ActivityStreamsVideo ActivityStreamsObject = "Video"
+)
+
+// ActivityStreamsActor refers to https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#actor-types
+type ActivityStreamsActor string
+
+const (
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-application
+	ActivityStreamsApplication ActivityStreamsActor = "Application"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-group
+	ActivityStreamsGroup ActivityStreamsActor = "Group"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-organization
+	ActivityStreamsOrganization ActivityStreamsActor = "Organization"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-person
+	ActivityStreamsPerson ActivityStreamsActor = "Person"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-service
+	ActivityStreamsService ActivityStreamsActor = "Service"
+)
+
+// ActivityStreamsActivity refers to https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#activity-types
+type ActivityStreamsActivity string
+
+const (
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-accept
+	ActivityStreamsAccept ActivityStreamsActivity = "Accept"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-add
+	ActivityStreamsAdd ActivityStreamsActivity = "Add"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-announce
+	ActivityStreamsAnnounce ActivityStreamsActivity = "Announce"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-arrive
+	ActivityStreamsArrive ActivityStreamsActivity = "Arrive"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-block
+	ActivityStreamsBlock ActivityStreamsActivity = "Block"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-create
+	ActivityStreamsCreate ActivityStreamsActivity = "Create"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-delete
+	ActivityStreamsDelete ActivityStreamsActivity = "Delete"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-dislike
+	ActivityStreamsDislike ActivityStreamsActivity = "Dislike"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-flag
+	ActivityStreamsFlag ActivityStreamsActivity = "Flag"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-follow
+	ActivityStreamsFollow ActivityStreamsActivity = "Follow"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-ignore
+	ActivityStreamsIgnore ActivityStreamsActivity = "Ignore"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-invite
+	ActivityStreamsInvite ActivityStreamsActivity = "Invite"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-join
+	ActivityStreamsJoin ActivityStreamsActivity = "Join"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-leave
+	ActivityStreamsLeave ActivityStreamsActivity = "Leave"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-like
+	ActivityStreamsLike ActivityStreamsActivity = "Like"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-listen
+	ActivityStreamsListen ActivityStreamsActivity = "Listen"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-move
+	ActivityStreamsMove ActivityStreamsActivity = "Move"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-offer
+	ActivityStreamsOffer ActivityStreamsActivity = "Offer"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-question
+	ActivityStreamsQuestion ActivityStreamsActivity = "Question"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-reject
+	ActivityStreamsReject ActivityStreamsActivity = "Reject"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-read
+	ActivityStreamsRead ActivityStreamsActivity = "Read"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-remove
+	ActivityStreamsRemove ActivityStreamsActivity = "Remove"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-tentativereject
+	ActivityStreamsTentativeReject ActivityStreamsActivity = "TentativeReject"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-tentativeaccept
+	ActivityStreamsTentativeAccept ActivityStreamsActivity = "TentativeAccept"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-travel
+	ActivityStreamsTravel ActivityStreamsActivity = "Travel"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-undo
+	ActivityStreamsUndo ActivityStreamsActivity = "Undo"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-update
+	ActivityStreamsUpdate ActivityStreamsActivity = "Update"
+	// https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#dfn-view
+	ActivityStreamsView ActivityStreamsActivity = "View"
+)
diff --git a/internal/db/model/status.go b/internal/db/model/status.go
index 31f5623..97d0de6 100644
--- a/internal/db/model/status.go
+++ b/internal/db/model/status.go
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ type Status struct {
 	// advanced visibility for this status
 	VisibilityAdvanced VisibilityAdvanced
 	// What is the activitystreams type of this status? See: https://www.w3.org/TR/activitystreams-vocabulary/#object-types
-	// Will probably almost always be a note.
-	ActivityStreamsType string
+	// Will probably almost always be Note but who knows!.
+	ActivityStreamsType ActivityStreamsObject
 }
 
 // Visibility represents the visibility granularity of a status.
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ type VisibilityAdvanced struct {
 		If DIRECT is selected, boostable will be FALSE, and all other flags will be TRUE.
 	*/
 	// This status will be federated beyond the local timeline(s)
-	Federated *bool `pg:"default:true"`
+	Federated bool `pg:"default:true"`
 	// This status can be boosted/reblogged
-	Boostable *bool `pg:"default:true"`
+	Boostable bool `pg:"default:true"`
 	// This status can be replied to
-	Replyable *bool `pg:"default:true"`
+	Replyable bool `pg:"default:true"`
 	// This status can be liked/faved
-	Likeable *bool `pg:"default:true"`
+	Likeable bool `pg:"default:true"`
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/pg.go b/internal/db/pg.go
index 4ea963a..b8ba8a7 100644
--- a/internal/db/pg.go
+++ b/internal/db/pg.go
@@ -254,6 +254,10 @@ func (ps *postgresService) GetWhere(key string, value interface{}, i interface{}
 	return nil
 }
 
+// func (ps *postgresService) GetWhereMany(i interface{}, where ...model.Where) error {
+// 	return nil
+// }
+
 func (ps *postgresService) GetAll(i interface{}) error {
 	if err := ps.conn.Model(i).Select(); err != nil {
 		if err == pg.ErrNoRows {
@@ -451,7 +455,7 @@ func (ps *postgresService) NewSignup(username string, reason string, requireAppr
 		URL:                   uris.UserURL,
 		PrivateKey:            key,
 		PublicKey:             &key.PublicKey,
-		ActorType:             "Person",
+		ActorType:             model.ActivityStreamsPerson,
 		URI:                   uris.UserURI,
 		InboxURL:              uris.InboxURI,
 		OutboxURL:             uris.OutboxURI,
@@ -537,7 +541,7 @@ func (ps *postgresService) AccountToMastoSensitive(a *model.Account) (*mastotype
 	}
 
 	mastoAccount.Source = &mastotypes.Source{
-		Privacy:             a.Privacy,
+		Privacy:             util.ParseMastoVisFromGTSVis(a.Privacy),
 		Sensitive:           a.Sensitive,
 		Language:            a.Language,
 		Note:                a.Note,
@@ -660,3 +664,58 @@ func (ps *postgresService) AccountToMastoPublic(a *model.Account) (*mastotypes.A
 		Fields:         fields,
 	}, nil
 }
+
+func (ps *postgresService) AccountStringsToMentions(targetAccounts []string, originAccountID string, statusID string) ([]*model.Mention, error) {
+	menchies := []*model.Mention{}
+	for _, a := range targetAccounts {
+		// A mentioned account looks like "@test@example.org" -- we can guarantee this from the regex that targetAccounts should have been derived from.
+		// But we still need to do a bit of fiddling to get what we need here -- the username and domain.
+
+		// 1.  trim off the first @
+		t := strings.TrimPrefix(a, "@")
+
+		// 2. split the username and domain
+		s := strings.Split(t, "@")
+
+		// 3. it should *always* be length 2 so if it's not then something is seriously wrong
+		if len(s) != 2 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("mentioned account format %s was not valid", a)
+		}
+		username := s[0]
+		domain := s[1]
+
+		// 4. check we now have a proper username and domain
+		if username == "" || domain == "" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("username or domain for %s was nil", a)
+		}
+
+		// okay we're good now, we can start pulling accounts out of the database
+		mentionedAccount := &model.Account{}
+		var err error
+		if domain == ps.config.Host {
+			// local user -- should have a null domain
+			err = ps.conn.Model(mentionedAccount).Where("id = ?", username).Where("domain = null").Select()
+		} else {
+			// remote user -- should have domain defined
+			err = ps.conn.Model(mentionedAccount).Where("id = ?", username).Where("domain = ?", domain).Select()
+		}
+
+		if err != nil {
+			if err == pg.ErrNoRows {
+				// no result found for this username/domain so just don't include it as a mencho and carry on about our business
+				ps.log.Debugf("no account found with username %s and domain %s, skipping it", username, domain)
+				continue
+			}
+			// a serious error has happened so bail
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error getting account with username %s and domain %s: %s", username, domain, err)
+		}
+
+		// id, createdat and updatedat will be populated by the db, so we have everything we need!
+		menchies = append(menchies, &model.Mention{
+			StatusID: statusID,
+			OriginAccountID: originAccountID,
+			TargetAccountID: mentionedAccount.ID,
+		})
+	}
+	return menchies, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/util/parse.go b/internal/util/parse.go
index 89be053..6bc4e7d 100644
--- a/internal/util/parse.go
+++ b/internal/util/parse.go
@@ -18,7 +18,12 @@
 
 package util
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db/model"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/pkg/mastotypes"
+)
 
 type URIs struct {
 	HostURL     string
@@ -48,7 +53,7 @@ func GenerateURIs(username string, protocol string, host string) *URIs {
 		HostURL:       hostURL,
 		UserURL:       userURL,
 		StatusesURL:   statusesURL,
-		
+
 		UserURI:       userURI,
 		StatusesURI:   statusesURI,
 		InboxURI:      inboxURI,
@@ -57,3 +62,13 @@ func GenerateURIs(username string, protocol string, host string) *URIs {
 		CollectionURI: collectionURI,
 	}
 }
+
+func ParseGTSVisFromMastoVis(m mastotypes.Visibility) model.Visibility {
+	// TODO: convert a masto vis into a gts vis
+	return ""
+}
+
+func ParseMastoVisFromGTSVis(m model.Visibility) mastotypes.Visibility {
+	// TODO: convert a gts vis into a masto vis
+	return ""
+}
diff --git a/internal/util/status.go b/internal/util/status.go
index f528a42..3667937 100644
--- a/internal/util/status.go
+++ b/internal/util/status.go
@@ -37,35 +37,32 @@ var (
 // It will look for fully-qualified account names in the form "@user@example.org".
 // Mentions that are just in the form "@username" will not be detected.
 func DeriveMentions(status string) []string {
-	menchies := []string{}
-	for _, match := range mentionRegex.FindAllStringSubmatch(status, -1) {
-		menchies = append(menchies, match[1])
+	mentionedAccounts := []string{}
+	for _, m := range mentionRegex.FindAllStringSubmatch(status, -1) {
+		mentionedAccounts = append(mentionedAccounts, m[1])
 	}
-	return Unique(menchies)
+	return Unique(mentionedAccounts)
 }
 
 // Unique returns a deduplicated version of a given string slice.
 func Unique(s []string) []string {
-    keys := make(map[string]bool)
-    list := []string{}
-    for _, entry := range s {
-        if _, value := keys[entry]; !value {
-            keys[entry] = true
-            list = append(list, entry)
-        }
-    }
-    return list
+	keys := make(map[string]bool)
+	list := []string{}
+	for _, entry := range s {
+		if _, value := keys[entry]; !value {
+			keys[entry] = true
+			list = append(list, entry)
+		}
+	}
+	return list
 }
 
 // HTMLFormat takes a plaintext formatted status string, and converts it into
 // a nice HTML-formatted string.
 //
 // This includes:
-//
 // - Replacing line-breaks with <p>
-//
 // - Replacing URLs with hrefs.
-//
 // - Replacing mentions with links to that account's URL as stored in the database.
 func HTMLFormat(status string) string {
 	// TODO: write proper HTML formatting logic for a status
diff --git a/pkg/mastotypes/source.go b/pkg/mastotypes/source.go
index 4142540..0445a1f 100644
--- a/pkg/mastotypes/source.go
+++ b/pkg/mastotypes/source.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ type Source struct {
 	//    unlisted = Unlisted post
 	//    private = Followers-only post
 	//    direct = Direct post
-	Privacy string `json:"privacy,omitempty"`
+	Privacy Visibility `json:"privacy,omitempty"`
 	// Whether new statuses should be marked sensitive by default.
 	Sensitive bool `json:"sensitive,omitempty"`
 	// The default posting language for new statuses.