--- a/browser/components/newtab/content-src/components/Base/Base.jsx
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/content-src/components/Base/Base.jsx
@@ -127,17 +127,18 @@ export class BaseContent extends React.P
     const { App } = props;
     const { initialized } = App;
     const prefs = props.Prefs.values;
 
     const isDiscoveryStream =
       props.DiscoveryStream.config && props.DiscoveryStream.config.enabled;
     let filteredSections = props.Sections;
 
-    const pocketEnabled = prefs["feeds.section.topstories"];
+    const pocketEnabled =
+      prefs["feeds.section.topstories"] && prefs["feeds.system.topstories"];
     const noSectionsEnabled =
       !prefs["feeds.topsites"] &&
       filteredSections.filter(section => section.enabled).length === 0;
     const searchHandoffEnabled = prefs["improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar"];
 
     const outerClassName = [
       "outer-wrapper",
       isDiscoveryStream && pocketEnabled && "ds-outer-wrapper-search-alignment",

--- a/browser/components/newtab/content-src/lib/selectLayoutRender.js
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/content-src/lib/selectLayoutRender.js
@@ -69,17 +69,19 @@ export const selectLayoutRender = ({
   if (!prefs["feeds.topsites"]) {
     filterArray.push("TopSites");
   }
 
   if (!locale.startsWith("en-")) {
     filterArray.push("Navigation");
   }
 
-  if (!prefs["feeds.section.topstories"]) {
+  const pocketEnabled =
+    prefs["feeds.section.topstories"] && prefs["feeds.system.topstories"];
+  if (!pocketEnabled) {
     filterArray.push(...DS_COMPONENTS);
   }
 
   const placeholderComponent = component => {
     if (!component.feed) {
       // TODO we now need a placeholder for topsites and textPromo.
       return {
         ...component,

--- a/browser/components/newtab/data/content/activity-stream.bundle.js
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/data/content/activity-stream.bundle.js
@@ -738,17 +738,17 @@ class BaseContent extends react__WEBPACK
       App
     } = props;
     const {
       initialized
     } = App;
     const prefs = props.Prefs.values;
     const isDiscoveryStream = props.DiscoveryStream.config && props.DiscoveryStream.config.enabled;
     let filteredSections = props.Sections;
-    const pocketEnabled = prefs["feeds.section.topstories"];
+    const pocketEnabled = prefs["feeds.section.topstories"] && prefs["feeds.system.topstories"];
     const noSectionsEnabled = !prefs["feeds.topsites"] && filteredSections.filter(section => section.enabled).length === 0;
     const searchHandoffEnabled = prefs["improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar"];
     const outerClassName = ["outer-wrapper", isDiscoveryStream && pocketEnabled && "ds-outer-wrapper-search-alignment", isDiscoveryStream && "ds-outer-wrapper-breakpoint-override", prefs.showSearch && this.state.fixedSearch && !noSectionsEnabled && "fixed-search", prefs.showSearch && noSectionsEnabled && "only-search"].filter(v => v).join(" ");
     return react__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_7___default.a.createElement("div", null, react__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_7___default.a.createElement("div", {
       className: outerClassName
     }, react__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_7___default.a.createElement("main", null, prefs.showSearch && react__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_7___default.a.createElement("div", {
       className: "non-collapsible-section"
     }, react__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_7___default.a.createElement(content_src_components_ErrorBoundary_ErrorBoundary__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_6__["ErrorBoundary"], null, react__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_7___default.a.createElement(content_src_components_Search_Search__WEBPACK_IMPORTED_MODULE_8__["Search"], _extends({
@@ -10704,17 +10704,19 @@ const selectLayoutRender = ({
   if (!prefs["feeds.topsites"]) {
     filterArray.push("TopSites");
   }
 
   if (!locale.startsWith("en-")) {
     filterArray.push("Navigation");
   }
 
-  if (!prefs["feeds.section.topstories"]) {
+  const pocketEnabled = prefs["feeds.section.topstories"] && prefs["feeds.system.topstories"];
+
+  if (!pocketEnabled) {
     filterArray.push(...DS_COMPONENTS);
   }
 
   const placeholderComponent = component => {
     if (!component.feed) {
       // TODO we now need a placeholder for topsites and textPromo.
       return { ...component,
         data: {

--- a/browser/components/newtab/lib/ActivityStream.jsm
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/lib/ActivityStream.jsm
@@ -168,17 +168,17 @@ const PREFS_CONFIG = new Map([
     "feeds.section.topstories.options",
     {
       title: "Configuration options for top stories feed",
       // This is a dynamic pref as it depends on the feed being shown or not
       getValue: args =>
         JSON.stringify({
           api_key_pref: "extensions.pocket.oAuthConsumerKey",
           // Use the opposite value as what default value the feed would have used
-          hidden: !PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").getValue(args),
+          hidden: !PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").getValue(args),
           provider_icon: "pocket",
           provider_name: "Pocket",
           read_more_endpoint:
             "https://getpocket.com/explore/trending?src=fx_new_tab",
           stories_endpoint: `https://getpocket.cdn.mozilla.net/v3/firefox/global-recs?version=3&consumer_key=$apiKey&locale_lang=${
             args.locale
           }&feed_variant=${
             showSpocs(args) ? "default_spocs_on" : "default_spocs_off"
@@ -370,16 +370,24 @@ const PREFS_CONFIG = new Map([
   [
     "section.topstories.rows",
     {
       title: "Number of rows of Top Stories to display",
       value: 1,
     },
   ],
   [
+    "feeds.section.topstories",
+    {
+      title:
+        "User pref to show stories on newtab (feeds.system.topstories has to be set to true as well)",
+      value: true,
+    },
+  ],
+  [
     "sectionOrder",
     {
       title: "The rendering order for the sections",
       value: "topsites,topstories,highlights",
     },
   ],
   [
     "improvesearch.noDefaultSearchTile",
@@ -596,21 +604,21 @@ const FEEDS_DATA = [
   },
   {
     name: "section.highlights",
     factory: () => new HighlightsFeed(),
     title: "Fetches content recommendations from places db",
     value: true,
   },
   {
-    name: "section.topstories",
+    name: "system.topstories",
     factory: () =>
       new TopStoriesFeed(PREFS_CONFIG.get("discoverystream.config")),
     title:
-      "Fetches content recommendations from a configurable content provider",
+      "System pref that fetches content recommendations from a configurable content provider",
     // Dynamically determine if Pocket should be shown for a geo / locale
     getValue: ({ geo, locale }) => {
       const preffedRegionsString =
         Services.prefs.getStringPref(REGION_STORIES_CONFIG) || "";
       const preffedRegions = preffedRegionsString.split(",").map(s => s.trim());
       const locales = {
         US: ["en-CA", "en-GB", "en-US"],
         CA: ["en-CA", "en-GB", "en-US"],

--- a/browser/components/newtab/test/unit/content-src/components/DiscoveryStreamBase.test.jsx
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/test/unit/content-src/components/DiscoveryStreamBase.test.jsx
@@ -102,16 +102,17 @@ describe("<DiscoveryStreamBase>", () => 
     };
     return shallow(
       <DiscoveryStreamBase
         locale="en-US"
         DiscoveryStream={defaultProps}
         Prefs={{
           values: {
             "feeds.section.topstories": true,
+            "feeds.system.topstories": true,
             "feeds.topsites": true,
           },
         }}
         document={{
           documentElement: { lang: "en-US" },
         }}
         Sections={[
           {

--- a/browser/components/newtab/test/unit/content-src/lib/selectLayoutRender.test.js
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/test/unit/content-src/lib/selectLayoutRender.test.js
@@ -926,16 +926,17 @@ describe("selectLayoutRender", () => {
       type: at.DISCOVERY_STREAM_LAYOUT_UPDATE,
       data: { layout: fakeLayout },
     });
 
     const { layoutRender } = selectLayoutRender({
       state: store.getState().DiscoveryStream,
       prefs: {
         "feeds.topsites": true,
+        "feeds.system.topstories": true,
         "feeds.section.topstories": true,
       },
     });
 
     assert.equal(layoutRender[0].components[0].type, "Message");
     assert.equal(layoutRender[0].components[1].type, "TopSites");
     assert.equal(layoutRender[0].components[2], undefined);
   });

--- a/browser/components/newtab/test/unit/lib/ActivityStream.test.js
+++ b/browser/components/newtab/test/unit/lib/ActivityStream.test.js
@@ -116,28 +116,23 @@ describe("ActivityStream", () => {
     it("should create a Telemetry feed", () => {
       const feed = as.feeds.get("feeds.telemetry")();
       assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
     });
     it("should create a Prefs feed", () => {
       const feed = as.feeds.get("feeds.prefs")();
       assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
     });
-    it("should create a section feed for each section in PREFS_CONFIG", () => {
-      // If new sections are added, their feeds will have to be added to the
-      // list of injected feeds above for this test to pass
-      let feedCount = 0;
-      for (const pref of PREFS_CONFIG.keys()) {
-        if (pref.search(/^feeds\.section\.[^.]+$/) === 0) {
-          const feed = as.feeds.get(pref)();
-          assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
-          feedCount++;
-        }
-      }
-      assert.isAbove(feedCount, 0);
+    it("should create a HighlightsFeed feed", () => {
+      const feed = as.feeds.get("feeds.section.highlights")();
+      assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
+    });
+    it("should create a TopStoriesFeed feed", () => {
+      const feed = as.feeds.get("feeds.system.topstories")();
+      assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
     });
     it("should create a AboutPreferences feed", () => {
       const feed = as.feeds.get("feeds.aboutpreferences")();
       assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
     });
     it("should create a SectionsFeed", () => {
       const feed = as.feeds.get("feeds.sections")();
       assert.instanceOf(feed, Fake);
@@ -336,61 +331,61 @@ describe("ActivityStream", () => {
     });
     it("should be false with no geo/locale", () => {
       prefHasUserValueStub.returns(false);
       appLocaleAsBCP47Stub.get(() => "");
       getStringPrefStub.withArgs("browser.search.region").returns("");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
 
-      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should be false with unexpected geo", () => {
       getStringPrefStub.withArgs("browser.search.region").returns("NOGEO");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
 
-      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should be false with expected geo and unexpected locale", () => {
       appLocaleAsBCP47Stub.get(() => "no-LOCALE");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
 
-      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should be true with expected geo and locale", () => {
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
-      assert.isTrue(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isTrue(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should be false after expected geo and locale then unexpected", () => {
       getStringPrefStub
         .withArgs("browser.search.region")
         .onFirstCall()
         .returns("US")
         .onSecondCall()
         .returns("NOGEO");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
 
-      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should be true with updated pref change", () => {
       appLocaleAsBCP47Stub.get(() => "en-GB");
       getStringPrefStub.withArgs("browser.search.region").returns("GB");
       getStringPrefStub
         .withArgs(
           "browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.discoverystream.region-stories-config"
         )
         .returns("US,CA,GB");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
 
-      assert.isTrue(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isTrue(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
   });
   describe("_updateDynamicPrefs topstories delayed default value", () => {
     let clock;
     beforeEach(() => {
       clock = sinon.useFakeTimers();
 
       // Have addObserver cause prefHasUserValue to now return true then observe
@@ -404,40 +399,40 @@ describe("ActivityStream", () => {
     afterEach(() => clock.restore());
 
     it("should set false with unexpected geo", () => {
       sandbox.stub(global.Services.prefs, "getStringPref").returns("NOGEO");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
       clock.tick(1);
 
-      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should set true with expected geo and locale", () => {
       sandbox.stub(global.Services.prefs, "getStringPref").returns("US");
       sandbox
         .stub(global.Services.locale, "appLocaleAsBCP47")
         .get(() => "en-US");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
       clock.tick(1);
 
-      assert.isTrue(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isTrue(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
     it("should not change default even with expected geo and locale", () => {
-      as._defaultPrefs.set("feeds.section.topstories", false);
+      as._defaultPrefs.set("feeds.system.topstories", false);
       sandbox.stub(global.Services.prefs, "getStringPref").returns("US");
       sandbox
         .stub(global.Services.locale, "appLocaleAsBCP47")
         .get(() => "en-US");
 
       as._updateDynamicPrefs();
       clock.tick(1);
 
-      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.section.topstories").value);
+      assert.isFalse(PREFS_CONFIG.get("feeds.system.topstories").value);
     });
   });
   describe("telemetry reporting on init failure", () => {
     it("should send a ping on init error", () => {
       as = new ActivityStream();
       const telemetry = { handleUndesiredEvent: sandbox.spy() };
       sandbox.stub(as.store, "init").throws();
       sandbox.stub(as.store.feeds, "get").returns(telemetry);