Laravel policy to check if user can follow a user.

UserPolicy.php

<?php

namespace App\Policies;

use App\User;
use Illuminate\Auth\Access\HandlesAuthorization;

class UserPolicy
{
    use HandlesAuthorization;

    /**
     * Determine whether the logged in user can follow this user.
     *
     * Usage in blade:
     * 
     *     @can('follow', $user)
     *         <button>Follow</button>
     *     @endcan
     * 
     * @param  \App\User  $user
     * @param  \App\User  $profile
     * @return bool
     */
    public function follow(User $user, User $profile)
    {
        return ($user->id !== $profile->id && ! $user->followed($profile->id) && ! $profile->blocked($user->id));
    }
}