diff --git a/config/locales/server.en.yml b/config/locales/server.en.yml
index 458c7679462..0ea35cdbfe2 100644
--- a/config/locales/server.en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/server.en.yml
@@ -2432,6 +2432,7 @@ en:
     anonymous_account_duration_minutes: "To protect anonymity create a new anonymous account every N minutes for each user. Example: if set to 600, as soon as 600 minutes elapse from last post AND user switches to anon, a new anonymous account is created."
 
     hide_user_profiles_from_public: "Disable user cards, user profiles and user directory for anonymous users."
+    hide_new_user_profiles: "Hide trust level 1 or lower user profiles from the public and trust level 1 users until they post for the first time. This feature is disabled unconditionally on must_approve_users and invite_only sites."
     allow_users_to_hide_profile: "Allow users to hide their profile and presence"
     hide_user_activity_tab: "Hide the activity tab on user profiles except for Admin and self."
 
@@ -3212,6 +3213,7 @@ en:
       hide_suspension_reasons: ""
       hide_user_activity_tab: ""
       hide_user_profiles_from_public: ""
+      hide_new_user_profiles: ""
       high_trust_flaggers_auto_hide_posts: ""
       highlighted_languages: ""
       history_hours_high: ""
diff --git a/config/site_settings.yml b/config/site_settings.yml
index 98f36030477..6f439651416 100644
--- a/config/site_settings.yml
+++ b/config/site_settings.yml
@@ -779,6 +779,8 @@ users:
   hide_user_profiles_from_public:
     default: false
     client: true
+  hide_new_user_profiles:
+    default: true
   allow_featured_topic_on_user_profiles:
     default: true
     client: true
diff --git a/lib/guardian/user_guardian.rb b/lib/guardian/user_guardian.rb
index 9c25c04367c..f3dbb8a5223 100644
--- a/lib/guardian/user_guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian/user_guardian.rb
@@ -134,12 +134,15 @@ module UserGuardian
 
     return true if user.staff? && !profile_hidden
 
-    if user.user_stat.blank? || user.user_stat.post_count == 0
-      return false if anonymous? || !@user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[2])
-    end
+    if SiteSetting.hide_new_user_profiles && !SiteSetting.invite_only &&
+         !SiteSetting.must_approve_users
+      if user.user_stat.blank? || user.user_stat.post_count == 0
+        return false if anonymous? || !@user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[2])
+      end
 
-    if anonymous? || !@user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[1])
-      return user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[1]) && !profile_hidden
+      if anonymous? || !@user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[1])
+        return user.has_trust_level?(TrustLevel[1]) && !profile_hidden
+      end
     end
 
     !profile_hidden
diff --git a/spec/lib/guardian/user_guardian_spec.rb b/spec/lib/guardian/user_guardian_spec.rb
index f5eb487b17d..6495af9b551 100644
--- a/spec/lib/guardian/user_guardian_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/guardian/user_guardian_spec.rb
@@ -107,6 +107,27 @@ RSpec.describe UserGuardian do
     context "when viewing the profile of a user with 0 posts" do
       before { user.user_stat.update!(post_count: 0) }
 
+      context "when hide_new_user_profiles is disabled" do
+        it "allows anonymous to see any profile" do
+          SiteSetting.hide_new_user_profiles = false
+          expect(Guardian.new.can_see_profile?(user)).to eq(true)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "when site is invite only" do
+        it "allows anonymous to see any profile" do
+          SiteSetting.invite_only = true
+          expect(Guardian.new.can_see_profile?(user)).to eq(true)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "when site requires user approval" do
+        it "allows anonymous to see any profile" do
+          SiteSetting.must_approve_users = true
+          expect(Guardian.new.can_see_profile?(user)).to eq(true)
+        end
+      end
+
       it "they can view their own profile" do
         expect(Guardian.new(user).can_see_profile?(user)).to eq(true)
       end