diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index 87027218..eb933922 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const fetchInProgressRef = useRef(false);
   const itemsRef = useRef<ModerationItem[]>([]);
   const loadedIdsRef = useRef<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  const lastFetchTimestampRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
 
   // Get admin settings for polling configuration
   const { 
@@ -206,6 +207,11 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.neq('submission_type', 'photo');
       }
 
+      // Silent polling: only fetch submissions created/updated since last poll
+      if (silent && lastFetchTimestampRef.current) {
+        submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.gt('submitted_at', lastFetchTimestampRef.current);
+      }
+
       // CRM-style claim filtering: moderators only see unclaimed OR self-assigned submissions
       // Admins see all submissions
       if (!isAdmin && !isSuperuser) {
@@ -427,6 +433,9 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
       const currentPreserveInteraction = preserveInteractionRef.current;
       
       if (silent) {
+        // Update timestamp for next poll
+        lastFetchTimestampRef.current = new Date().toISOString();
+        
         // Background polling: behavior controlled by admin settings
         const currentLoadedIds = loadedIdsRef.current;
         const newSubmissions = moderationItems.filter(item => !currentLoadedIds.has(item.id));
@@ -484,6 +493,8 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         }
       } else {
         // Normal fetch: Load all items and reset pending
+        console.log('🔄 Manual refresh - replacing entire queue');
+        lastFetchTimestampRef.current = null; // Reset timestamp to fetch everything next time
         setItems(moderationItems);
         setPendingNewItems([]);
         setNewItemsCount(0);