With phpFox v4 we changed how each section displays content by default, even for the Admin user itself. Each section, including the activity feed, displays content from a users friends list. This in a sense prevents users from spamming other members, and if they do a user can at anytime unfriend that person.
The only sections that are public are the forums and pages.
By installing the Admin View All Items by ScriptTechs, you make your Admin omnipotent, which will open all sections for you to see and monitor its content.