diff --git a/aleksis/core/preferences.py b/aleksis/core/preferences.py
index 4e1bd8a40744e8374a3c3df041b2832da3f7275d..b05539ad7175621cc9842af8fcf53ec47203c9cc 100644
--- a/aleksis/core/preferences.py
+++ b/aleksis/core/preferences.py
@@ -386,3 +386,22 @@ class PDFFileExpirationDuration(IntegerPreference):
     default = 3
     verbose_name = _("PDF file expiration duration")
     help_text = _("in minutes")
+
+
+@person_preferences_registry.register
+class AutoUpdatingDashboard(BooleanPreference):
+    """User preference for automatically updating the dashboard."""
+
+    section = general
+    name = "automatically_update_dashboard"
+    default = True
+    verbose_name = _("Automatically update the dashboard and its widgets")
+
+@site_preferences_registry.register
+class AutoUpdatingDashboardSite(BooleanPreference):
+    """Automatic updating of dashboard."""
+
+    section = general
+    name = "automatically_update_dashboard_site"
+    default = True
+    verbose_name = _("Automatically update the dashboard and its widgets sitewide")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html b/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html
index 6bbbab8ecfbe2768d12eb139fae110ac5cf62371..7c0cfaf1f681c0bcfbbbb4d4cd5ac2121c8634d4 100644
--- a/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html
+++ b/aleksis/core/templates/core/index.html
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
       <div class="col s12 m6">
         <h5>{% blocktrans %}Last activities{% endblocktrans %}</h5>
 
-        {% if activities %}
+        {% if activities %} sitewide
           <ul class="collection">
             {% for activity in activities %}
               <li class="collection-item">
@@ -110,5 +110,7 @@
     </div>
   {% endif %}
 
-  <script type="text/javascript" src="{% static "js/include_ajax_live.js" %}"></script>
-{% endblock %}
+  {% if user.person.preferences.general__automatically_update_dashboard and request.site.preferences.general__automatically_update_dashboard_site %}
+    <script type="text/javascript" src="{% static "js/include_ajax_live.js" %}"></script>
+  {% endif %}
+{% endblock %}
\ No newline at end of file