diff --git a/web_server/blueprints/streams.py b/web_server/blueprints/streams.py
index 6d6af97..93fce7a 100644
--- a/web_server/blueprints/streams.py
+++ b/web_server/blueprints/streams.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-from flask import Blueprint, session, jsonify
+from flask import Blueprint, session, jsonify, g
 from utils.stream_utils import streamer_live_status, streamer_most_recent_stream, user_stream, followed_live_streams
 from utils.user_utils import get_user_id
-from database.database import Database
+from utils import login_required
+from database.database import Database, fetch_data_as_list
 stream_bp = Blueprint("stream", __name__)
 
 
@@ -21,9 +22,13 @@ def get_sample_streams() -> list[dict]:
 
     # fetch top 25 most viewed live streams if not logged in
     # TODO Add a check to see if user is logged in, if they are, find streams that match categories they follow
-    streams = cursor.execute("""SELECT * FROM streams 
-                             ORDER BY num_viewers DESC
-                             LIMIT 25; """).fetchall()
+    query = """SELECT * FROM streams 
+               ORDER BY num_viewers DESC
+               LIMIT 25; """
+    
+    streams = fetch_data_as_list(cursor, query)
+
+
     return jsonify({
         "streams": streams
     })
@@ -67,25 +72,27 @@ def get_categories() -> list[dict]:
     cursor = db.create_connection()
 
     # fetch top categories by number of viewers
-    categories = cursor.execute("""SELECT category_name, SUM(num_viewers) FROM categories, streams
+    query = """SELECT categories.category_id, category_name, SUM(num_viewers) as num_viewers FROM categories, streams
                                 WHERE categories.category_id = streams.category_id
                                 GROUP BY category_name
                                 ORDER BY SUM(num_viewers) DESC
-                                LIMIT 25; """).fetchall()
+                                LIMIT 25; """
+    
+    categories = fetch_data_as_list(cursor, query)
     return jsonify({'categories': categories})
 
-
+@login_required
 @stream_bp.route('/get_followed_categories')
 def get_followed_categories() -> list | list[dict]:
     """
     Queries DB to get a list of followed categories
-    Hmm..
-    """
-    categories = []
-    if categories:
-        return categories
-    return get_categories()
 
+    """
+    db = Database()
+    cursor = db.create_connection()
+
+    # fetch categories that the user follows
+    
 
 @stream_bp.route('/get_streamer_data/<int:streamer_username>')
 def get_streamer_data(streamer_username):
diff --git a/web_server/database/app.db b/web_server/database/app.db
index c452c93..2a24de6 100644
Binary files a/web_server/database/app.db and b/web_server/database/app.db differ
diff --git a/web_server/database/database.py b/web_server/database/database.py
index 034a6ff..51f0d7a 100644
--- a/web_server/database/database.py
+++ b/web_server/database/database.py
@@ -19,4 +19,17 @@ class Database:
             print(e)
 
     def close_connection(self) -> None:
-        self._conn.close()
\ No newline at end of file
+        self._conn.close()
+
+def fetch_data_as_list(cursor, query, params=None):
+    # Execute the query with parameters (if any)
+    cursor.execute(query, params or [])
+    
+    # Get the column names from the cursor
+    columns = [description[0] for description in cursor.description]
+    
+    # Convert rows to dictionaries
+    rows = cursor.fetchall()
+    result = [dict(zip(columns, row)) for row in rows]
+    
+    return result
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/web_server/database/testing_data.sql b/web_server/database/testing_data.sql
index 42cffe7..529f0e6 100644
--- a/web_server/database/testing_data.sql
+++ b/web_server/database/testing_data.sql
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ INSERT INTO categories (category_name) VALUES
 
 -- Sample data for users
 INSERT INTO users (username, password, email, num_followers, stream_key, is_partnered, bio) VALUES 
-('GamerDude', 'password123', 'gamerdude@example.com', 500, '1', 0, 'Streaming my gaming adventures!'),
-('MusicLover', 'music4life', 'musiclover@example.com', 1200, '1', 0, 'I share my favorite tunes.'),
-('ArtFan', 'artistic123', 'artfan@example.com', 300, '1', 0, 'Exploring the world of art.'),
-('EduGuru', 'learn123', 'eduguru@example.com', 800, '1', 0, 'Teaching everything I know.'),
-('SportsStar', 'sports123', 'sportsstar@example.com', 2000, '1', 0, 'Join me for live sports updates!');
+('GamerDude', 'password123', 'gamerdude@example.com', 500, '1234', 0, 'Streaming my gaming adventures!'),
+('MusicLover', 'music4life', 'musiclover@example.com', 1200, '2345', 0, 'I share my favorite tunes.'),
+('ArtFan', 'artistic123', 'artfan@example.com', 300, '3456', 0, 'Exploring the world of art.'),
+('EduGuru', 'learn123', 'eduguru@example.com', 800, '4567', 0, 'Teaching everything I know.'),
+('SportsStar', 'sports123', 'sportsstar@example.com', 2000, '5678', 0, 'Join me for live sports updates!');
 
 -- Sample data for streams
 INSERT INTO streams (user_id, title, start_time, num_viewers, isLive, vod_id, category_id) VALUES 
@@ -52,3 +52,8 @@ SELECT * FROM follows;
 SELECT * FROM user_preferences;
 SELECT * FROM subscribes;
 SELECT * FROM categories;
+
+INSERT INTO streams (user_id, title, start_time, num_viewers, isLive, vod_id, category_id) VALUES 
+(6, 'Epic Gaming Session 2', '2025-01-26 18:00:00', 800, 1, NULL, 1);
+INSERT INTO users (username, password, email, num_followers, stream_key, is_partnered, bio) VALUES 
+('GamerDude2', 'password123', 'gamerdude2@gmail.com', 3200, '6789', 0, 'Streaming my gaming adventures!');