diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/CommandMeta/CommandTree.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/CommandMeta/CommandTree.cs
index c77e3db6..871f5cfa 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/CommandMeta/CommandTree.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/CommandMeta/CommandTree.cs
@@ -489,6 +489,8 @@ public partial class CommandTree
             return ctx.Execute<Config>(null, m => m.MemberDefaultPrivacy(ctx));
         if (ctx.Match("gp"))
             return ctx.Execute<Config>(null, m => m.GroupDefaultPrivacy(ctx));
+        if (ctx.MatchMultiple(new[] { "show" }, new[] { "private" }) || ctx.Match("sp"))
+            return ctx.Execute<Config>(null, m => m.ShowPrivateInfo(ctx));
 
         // todo: maybe add the list of configuration keys here?
         return ctx.Reply($"{Emojis.Error} Could not find a setting with that name. Please see `pk;commands config` for the list of possible config settings.");
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/Context.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/Context.cs
index 52bd586e..b80fe257 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/Context.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/Context.cs
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ public class Context
         if (hasPrivateOverride && hasPublicOverride)
             throw new PKError("Cannot match both public and private flags at the same time.");
 
-        if (System.Id != systemId)
+        if (System?.Id != systemId)
         {
             if (hasPrivateOverride)
                 throw Errors.NotOwnInfo;
@@ -153,8 +153,9 @@ public class Context
         if (hasPublicOverride)
             return LookupContext.ByNonOwner;
 
-        // todo: add config defaults
-        return LookupContext.ByOwner;
+        return Config.ShowPrivateInfo
+            ? LookupContext.ByOwner
+            : LookupContext.ByNonOwner;
     }
 
     public IComponentContext Services => _provider;
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/ContextChecksExt.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/ContextChecksExt.cs
index 64fa8194..b1a7a318 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/ContextChecksExt.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/CommandSystem/Context/ContextChecksExt.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public static class ContextChecksExt
     public static Context CheckSystemPrivacy(this Context ctx, PKSystem target, PrivacyLevel level)
     {
         if (level.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.Id))) return ctx;
-        throw new PKError("You do not have permission to access this information.");
+        throw target.Id == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
     }
 
     public static Context CheckOwnSystem(this Context ctx, PKSystem system)
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Config.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Config.cs
index d1233d29..9aa0100b 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Config.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Config.cs
@@ -72,6 +72,13 @@ public class Config
             "disabled"
         ));
 
+        items.Add(new(
+            "show private",
+            "Whether private information is shown to linked accounts by default",
+            ctx.Config.ShowPrivateInfo.ToString().ToLower(),
+            "true"
+        ));
+
         items.Add(new(
             "Member limit",
             "The maximum number of registered members for your system",
@@ -345,7 +352,7 @@ public class Config
 
         if (!ctx.HasNext())
         {
-            if (ctx.Config.MemberDefaultPrivate) { await ctx.Reply("Newly created groups will currently have their privacy settings set to private. To change this, type `pk;config private group off`"); }
+            if (ctx.Config.GroupDefaultPrivate) { await ctx.Reply("Newly created groups will currently have their privacy settings set to private. To change this, type `pk;config private group off`"); }
             else { await ctx.Reply("Newly created groups will currently have their privacy settings set to public. To automatically set new groups' privacy settings to private, type `pk;config private group on`"); }
         }
         else
@@ -364,4 +371,30 @@ public class Config
             }
         }
     }
+
+    public async Task ShowPrivateInfo(Context ctx)
+    {
+        ctx.CheckSystem();
+
+        if (!ctx.HasNext())
+        {
+            if (ctx.Config.ShowPrivateInfo) await ctx.Reply("Private information is currently **shown** when looking up your own info. Use the `-public` flag to hide it.");
+            else await ctx.Reply("Private information is currently **hidden** when looking up your own info. Use the `-private` flag to show it.");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (ctx.Match("true"))
+        {
+            await _repo.UpdateSystemConfig(ctx.System.Id, new() { ShowPrivateInfo = true });
+
+            await ctx.Reply("Private information will now be **shown** when looking up your own info. Use the `-public` flag to hide it.");
+        }
+        else if (ctx.Match("false"))
+        {
+            await _repo.UpdateSystemConfig(ctx.System.Id, new() { ShowPrivateInfo = false });
+
+            await ctx.Reply("Private information will now be **hidden** when looking up your own info. Use the `-private` flag to show it.");
+        }
+        else throw new PKError("You must pass 'true' or 'false' to this command.");
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Groups.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Groups.cs
index fbb250d5..c87f977d 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Groups.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Groups.cs
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ public class Groups
     public async Task GroupDescription(Context ctx, PKGroup target)
     {
         if (!target.DescriptionPrivacy.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.System)))
-            throw Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+            throw target.System == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
 
         var noDescriptionSetMessage = "This group does not have a description set.";
         if (ctx.System?.Id == target.System)
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ public class Groups
         async Task ShowIcon()
         {
             if (!target.IconPrivacy.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.System)))
-                throw Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+                throw target.System == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+
             if ((target.Icon?.Trim() ?? "").Length > 0)
             {
                 var eb = new EmbedBuilder()
@@ -346,7 +347,8 @@ public class Groups
         async Task ShowBannerImage()
         {
             if (!target.DescriptionPrivacy.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.System)))
-                throw Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+                throw target.System == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+
             if ((target.BannerImage?.Trim() ?? "").Length > 0)
             {
                 var eb = new EmbedBuilder()
@@ -440,7 +442,7 @@ public class Groups
             if (system.Id == ctx.System.Id)
                 pctx = LookupContext.ByOwner;
             else
-                throw new PKError("You do not have permission to access this information.");
+                throw system.Id == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
         }
 
         var groups = (await _db.Execute(conn => conn.QueryGroupList(system.Id)))
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Lists/ContextListExt.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Lists/ContextListExt.cs
index 77cfbbeb..24c10d53 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Lists/ContextListExt.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Lists/ContextListExt.cs
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ public static class ContextListExt
 
         // Privacy filter (default is public only)
         if (ctx.MatchFlag("a", "all")) p.PrivacyFilter = null;
-        if (ctx.MatchFlag("private-only", "private", "priv")) p.PrivacyFilter = PrivacyLevel.Private;
-        if (ctx.MatchFlag("public-only", "public", "pub")) p.PrivacyFilter = PrivacyLevel.Public;
+        if (ctx.MatchFlag("private-only", "po")) p.PrivacyFilter = PrivacyLevel.Private;
 
         // PERM CHECK: If we're trying to access non-public members of another system, error
         if (p.PrivacyFilter != PrivacyLevel.Public && lookupCtx != LookupContext.ByOwner)
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/MemberEdit.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/MemberEdit.cs
index a3b0798b..3b370ff8 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/MemberEdit.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/MemberEdit.cs
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public class MemberEdit
                 $" To set one, type `pk;member {target.Reference()} description <description>`.";
 
         if (!target.DescriptionPrivacy.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.System)))
-            throw Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+            throw target.System == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
 
         if (ctx.MatchRaw())
         {
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ public class MemberEdit
             noPronounsSetMessage += $"To set some, type `pk;member {target.Reference()} pronouns <pronouns>`.";
 
         if (!target.PronounPrivacy.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.System)))
-            throw Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+            throw target.System == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
 
         if (ctx.MatchRaw())
         {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ public class MemberEdit
         else if (!ctx.HasNext())
         {
             if (!target.BirthdayPrivacy.CanAccess(ctx.LookupContextFor(target.System)))
-                throw Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
+                throw target.System == ctx.System?.Id ? Errors.LookupHidden : Errors.LookupNotAllowed;
 
             if (target.Birthday == null)
                 await ctx.Reply("This member does not have a birthdate set."
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Errors.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Errors.cs
index cec1208b..baeff67c 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Errors.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Errors.cs
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ public static class Errors
         new("Cannot get the front percent between now and a time in the future.");
 
     public static PKError LookupNotAllowed => new("You do not have permission to access this information.");
+    public static PKError LookupHidden =>
+        new("This information is private and you have chosen to hide private information by default. Add the `-private` flag to this command to show it.");
 
     public static PKError StringTooLongError(string name, int length, int maxLength) =>
         new($"{name} too long ({length}/{maxLength} characters).");
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Migrations/23.sql b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Migrations/23.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb9b2e65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Migrations/23.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- schema version 23
+-- show/hide private information when looked up by linked accounts
+
+alter table system_config add column show_private_info bool default true;
+
+update info set schema_version = 23;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Utils/DatabaseMigrator.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Utils/DatabaseMigrator.cs
index a9e990c8..0688ce09 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Utils/DatabaseMigrator.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Utils/DatabaseMigrator.cs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace PluralKit.Core;
 internal class DatabaseMigrator
 {
     private const string RootPath = "PluralKit.Core.Database"; // "resource path" root for SQL files
-    private const int TargetSchemaVersion = 22;
+    private const int TargetSchemaVersion = 23;
     private readonly ILogger _logger;
 
     public DatabaseMigrator(ILogger logger)
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Models/Patch/SystemConfigPatch.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Models/Patch/SystemConfigPatch.cs
index 2c32b41e..a65ee1a8 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Models/Patch/SystemConfigPatch.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Models/Patch/SystemConfigPatch.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ public class SystemConfigPatch: PatchObject
     public Partial<int?> LatchTimeout { get; set; }
     public Partial<bool> MemberDefaultPrivate { get; set; }
     public Partial<bool> GroupDefaultPrivate { get; set; }
+    public Partial<bool> ShowPrivateInfo { get; set; }
     public Partial<int?> MemberLimitOverride { get; set; }
     public Partial<int?> GroupLimitOverride { get; set; }
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ public class SystemConfigPatch: PatchObject
         .With("latch_timeout", LatchTimeout)
         .With("member_default_private", MemberDefaultPrivate)
         .With("group_default_private", GroupDefaultPrivate)
+        .With("show_private_info", ShowPrivateInfo)
         .With("member_limit_override", MemberLimitOverride)
         .With("group_limit_override", GroupLimitOverride)
     );
@@ -51,6 +53,9 @@ public class SystemConfigPatch: PatchObject
         if (GroupDefaultPrivate.IsPresent)
             o.Add("group_default_private", GroupDefaultPrivate.Value);
 
+        if (ShowPrivateInfo.IsPresent)
+            o.Add("show_private_info", ShowPrivateInfo.Value);
+
         if (MemberLimitOverride.IsPresent)
             o.Add("member_limit", MemberLimitOverride.Value);
 
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Models/SystemConfig.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Models/SystemConfig.cs
index 1f7f5875..905a3162 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Models/SystemConfig.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Models/SystemConfig.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ public class SystemConfig
     public int? LatchTimeout { get; }
     public bool MemberDefaultPrivate { get; }
     public bool GroupDefaultPrivate { get; }
+    public bool ShowPrivateInfo { get; }
     public int? MemberLimitOverride { get; }
     public int? GroupLimitOverride { get; }
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ public static class SystemConfigExt
         o.Add("latch_timeout", cfg.LatchTimeout);
         o.Add("member_default_private", cfg.MemberDefaultPrivate);
         o.Add("group_default_private", cfg.GroupDefaultPrivate);
+        o.Add("show_private_info", cfg.ShowPrivateInfo);
         o.Add("member_limit", cfg.MemberLimitOverride ?? Limits.MaxMemberCount);
         o.Add("group_limit", cfg.GroupLimitOverride ?? Limits.MaxGroupCount);
 
diff --git a/docs/content/api/models.md b/docs/content/api/models.md
index a2cf3e10..480675dd 100644
--- a/docs/content/api/models.md
+++ b/docs/content/api/models.md
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ Every PluralKit entity has two IDs: a short (5-character) ID and a longer UUID.
 |latch_timeout|int?|
 |member_default_private*|bool|whether members created through the bot have privacy settings set to private by default|
 |group_default_private*|bool|whether groups created through the bot have privacy settings set to private by default|
+|show_private_info|bool|whether the bot shows the system's own private information without a `-private` flag|
 |member_limit|int|read-only, defaults to 1000|
 |group_limit|int|read-only, defaults to 250|
 
diff --git a/docs/content/tips-and-tricks.md b/docs/content/tips-and-tricks.md
index b22198c3..8095982d 100644
--- a/docs/content/tips-and-tricks.md
+++ b/docs/content/tips-and-tricks.md
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ There are a number of option flags that can be added to the `pk;system list` com
 |Flag|Aliases|Description|
 |---|---|---|
 |-all|-a|Show all members, including private members|
-|-public-only|-public, -pub|Only show public members (default)|
-|-private-only|-private, -priv|Only show private members|
+|-private-only|-po|Only show private members|
 
 ::: warning
 You cannot look up private members of another system.
@@ -80,4 +79,6 @@ These flags only work with the full member list (`pk;system list full`).
 |pk;group \<group> frontpercent|-flat||Show "flat" frontpercent - percentages add up to 100%|
 |Most commands|-all|-a|Show hidden/private information|
 |Most commands|-raw|-r|Show text with formatting, for easier copy-pasting|
+|All commands|-private|-priv|Show private information|
+|All commands|-public|-pub|Hide private information|
 |All commands, except `delete`|-y|-yes|Skip confirmation prompt|