diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
index abd1ec6e..74b04a5d 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ModerationQueue.tsx
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
   const [interactingWith, setInteractingWith] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
   const [newItemsCount, setNewItemsCount] = useState(0);
   const [isRefreshing, setIsRefreshing] = useState(false);
+  const [profileCache, setProfileCache] = useState<Map<string, any>>(new Map());
   const { toast } = useToast();
   const { isAdmin, isSuperuser } = useUserRole();
   const { user } = useAuth();
@@ -109,8 +110,8 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
       return;
     }
     
-    // Prevent duplicate requests
-    if (isRefreshing && silent) {
+    // Prevent ANY refresh if one is in progress
+    if (isRefreshing) {
       console.log('⏭️ Skipping refresh - already in progress');
       return;
     }
@@ -377,7 +378,20 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
         .select('user_id, username, display_name, avatar_url')
         .in('user_id', userIds);
 
-      const profileMap = new Map(profiles?.map(p => [p.user_id, p]) || []);
+      // Update profile cache with stable references
+      setProfileCache(prevCache => {
+        const newCache = new Map(prevCache);
+        profiles?.forEach(p => {
+          const existing = newCache.get(p.user_id);
+          // Only update if data actually changed
+          if (!existing || JSON.stringify(existing) !== JSON.stringify(p)) {
+            newCache.set(p.user_id, p);
+          }
+        });
+        return newCache;
+      });
+
+      const profileMap = profileCache;
 
       // Combine and format items
       const formattedItems: ModerationItem[] = [
@@ -448,7 +462,7 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
           addToTop: true,
         });
 
-        // If there are changes
+        // Only update state if there are actual changes
         if (mergeResult.hasChanges) {
           const actuallyNewItems = mergeResult.changes.added.length;
           
@@ -458,30 +472,31 @@ export const ModerationQueue = forwardRef<ModerationQueueRef>((props, ref) => {
             updated: mergeResult.changes.updated.length,
             removed: mergeResult.changes.removed.length,
             totalItems: mergeResult.items.length,
-            protectedIds: Array.from(preserveInteraction ? interactingWith : new Set<string>()),
-            strategy: refreshStrategy,
-            preserveInteraction
           });
           
-          // Filter out items user is interacting with
-          const protectedIds = preserveInteraction ? interactingWith : new Set<string>();
-          const mergedWithProtection = mergeResult.items.map(item => {
-            if (protectedIds.has(item.id)) {
-              // Find and preserve the current version of this item
-              const currentItem = items.find(i => i.id === item.id);
-              return currentItem || item;
-            }
-            return item;
-          });
+          // Only apply protection map if needed
+          let finalItems = mergeResult.items;
+          if (preserveInteraction && interactingWith.size > 0) {
+            finalItems = mergeResult.items.map(item => {
+              if (interactingWith.has(item.id)) {
+                const currentItem = items.find(i => i.id === item.id);
+                return currentItem || item;
+              }
+              return item;
+            });
+          }
 
-          setItems(mergedWithProtection);
+          // Only call setItems if reference has actually changed
+          if (finalItems !== items) {
+            setItems(finalItems);
+          }
           
           // Only set new items count if there are genuinely new items
           if (actuallyNewItems > 0) {
             setNewItemsCount(actuallyNewItems);
           }
         } else {
-          // No changes detected - keep current state completely unchanged
+          // No changes detected - skip all state updates
           console.log('✅ No changes detected, keeping current state');
         }
       } else {