diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index 8b74c0bd..7b083382 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const isMobile = useIsMobile();
   const [items, setItems] = useState<ModerationItem[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [isInitialLoad, setIsInitialLoad] = useState(true);
   const [actionLoading, setActionLoading] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [notes, setNotes] = useState<Record<string, string>>({});
   const [activeEntityFilter, setActiveEntityFilter] = useState<EntityFilter>('all');
@@ -77,17 +78,20 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   // Expose refresh method via ref
   useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
     refresh: () => {
-      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, false); // Manual refresh shows loading
     }
   }), [activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter]);
 
-  const fetchItems = async (entityFilter: EntityFilter = 'all', statusFilter: StatusFilter = 'pending') => {
+  const fetchItems = async (entityFilter: EntityFilter = 'all', statusFilter: StatusFilter = 'pending', silent = false) => {
     if (!user) {
       return;
     }
     
     try {
-      setLoading(true);
+      // Only show loading on initial load or filter change
+      if (!silent) {
+        setLoading(true);
+      }
       
       let reviewStatuses: string[] = [];
       let submissionStatuses: string[] = [];
@@ -346,29 +350,35 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         variant: "destructive",
       });
     } finally {
-      setLoading(false);
+      // Only clear loading if it was set
+      if (!silent) {
+        setLoading(false);
+      }
+      if (isInitialLoad) {
+        setIsInitialLoad(false);
+      }
     }
   };
 
   // Initial fetch on mount and filter changes
   useEffect(() => {
     if (user) {
-      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, false); // Show loading
     }
   }, [activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, user]);
 
   // Polling for auto-refresh
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!user || refreshMode !== 'auto') return;
+    if (!user || refreshMode !== 'auto' || isInitialLoad) return;
 
     const interval = setInterval(() => {
-      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter);
+      fetchItems(activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, true); // Silent refresh
     }, pollInterval);
 
     return () => {
       clearInterval(interval);
     };
-  }, [user, refreshMode, pollInterval, activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter]);
+  }, [user, refreshMode, pollInterval, activeEntityFilter, activeStatusFilter, isInitialLoad]);
 
   const handleResetToPending = async (item: ModerationItem) => {
     setActionLoading(item.id);
diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ReportsQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ReportsQueue.tsx
index 2dcb9e7d..b07642f4 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ReportsQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ReportsQueue.tsx
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ export interface ReportsQueueRef {
 export const ReportsQueue = forwardRef<ReportsQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const [reports, setReports] = useState<Report[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [isInitialLoad, setIsInitialLoad] = useState(true);
   const [actionLoading, setActionLoading] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const { toast } = useToast();
   const { user } = useAuth();
@@ -58,11 +59,16 @@ export const ReportsQueue = forwardRef<ReportsQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
 
   // Expose refresh method via ref
   useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({
-    refresh: fetchReports
+    refresh: () => fetchReports(false) // Manual refresh shows loading
   }), []);
 
-  const fetchReports = async () => {
+  const fetchReports = async (silent = false) => {
     try {
+      // Only show loading on initial load
+      if (!silent) {
+        setLoading(true);
+      }
+
       const { data, error } = await supabase
         .from('reports')
         .select(`
@@ -123,29 +129,35 @@ export const ReportsQueue = forwardRef<ReportsQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         variant: "destructive",
       });
     } finally {
-      setLoading(false);
+      // Only clear loading if it was set
+      if (!silent) {
+        setLoading(false);
+      }
+      if (isInitialLoad) {
+        setIsInitialLoad(false);
+      }
     }
   };
 
   // Initial fetch on mount
   useEffect(() => {
     if (user) {
-      fetchReports();
+      fetchReports(false); // Show loading
     }
   }, [user]);
 
   // Polling for auto-refresh
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!user || refreshMode !== 'auto') return;
+    if (!user || refreshMode !== 'auto' || isInitialLoad) return;
 
     const interval = setInterval(() => {
-      fetchReports();
+      fetchReports(true); // Silent refresh
     }, pollInterval);
 
     return () => {
       clearInterval(interval);
     };
-  }, [user, refreshMode, pollInterval]);
+  }, [user, refreshMode, pollInterval, isInitialLoad]);
 
   const handleReportAction = async (reportId: string, action: 'reviewed' | 'dismissed') => {
     setActionLoading(reportId);
diff --git a/src/hooks/useModerationStats.ts b/src/hooks/useModerationStats.ts
index dde6a2f8..714f608c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useModerationStats.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useModerationStats.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export const useModerationStats = (options: UseModerationStatsOptions = {}) => {
   });
   
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [isInitialLoad, setIsInitialLoad] = useState(true);
   const [lastUpdated, setLastUpdated] = useState<Date | null>(null);
   const onStatsChangeRef = useRef(onStatsChange);
   
@@ -37,11 +38,14 @@ export const useModerationStats = (options: UseModerationStatsOptions = {}) => {
     onStatsChangeRef.current = onStatsChange;
   }, [onStatsChange]);
 
-  const fetchStats = useCallback(async () => {
+  const fetchStats = useCallback(async (silent = false) => {
     if (!enabled) return;
     
     try {
-      setIsLoading(true);
+      // Only show loading on initial load
+      if (!silent) {
+        setIsLoading(true);
+      }
       
       const [submissionsResult, reportsResult, reviewsResult] = await Promise.all([
         supabase
@@ -70,27 +74,35 @@ export const useModerationStats = (options: UseModerationStatsOptions = {}) => {
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Error fetching moderation stats:', error);
     } finally {
-      setIsLoading(false);
+      // Only clear loading if it was set
+      if (!silent) {
+        setIsLoading(false);
+      }
+      if (isInitialLoad) {
+        setIsInitialLoad(false);
+      }
     }
-  }, [enabled]);
+  }, [enabled, isInitialLoad]);
 
   // Initial fetch
   useEffect(() => {
     if (enabled) {
-      fetchStats();
+      fetchStats(false); // Show loading
     }
   }, [enabled, fetchStats]);
 
   // Polling
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!enabled || !pollingEnabled) return;
+    if (!enabled || !pollingEnabled || isInitialLoad) return;
 
-    const interval = setInterval(fetchStats, pollingInterval);
+    const interval = setInterval(() => {
+      fetchStats(true); // Silent refresh
+    }, pollingInterval);
 
     return () => {
       clearInterval(interval);
     };
-  }, [enabled, pollingEnabled, pollingInterval, fetchStats]);
+  }, [enabled, pollingEnabled, pollingInterval, fetchStats, isInitialLoad]);
 
   return { 
     stats,