pixelfed/app/Http/Controllers/FollowerController.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use Auth;
use App\{Follower, Profile};
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Jobs\FollowPipeline\FollowPipeline;

class FollowerController extends Controller
{
    public function __construct()
    {
      $this->middleware('auth');
    }

    public function store(Request $request)
    {
      $this->validate($request, [
        'item'    => 'required|integer',
      ]);

      $user = Auth::user()->profile;
      $target = Profile::where('id', '!=', $user->id)->findOrFail($request->input('item'));

      $isFollowing = Follower::whereProfileId($user->id)->whereFollowingId($target->id)->count();

      if($isFollowing == 0) {
        $follower = new Follower;
        $follower->profile_id = $user->id;
        $follower->following_id = $target->id;
        $follower->save();
        FollowPipeline::dispatch($follower);
      } else {
        $follower = Follower::whereProfileId($user->id)->whereFollowingId($target->id)->firstOrFail();
        $follower->delete();
      }


      return redirect()->back();
    }
}