https://mikedilger.com/gossip-model/
It is of course possible to combine this approach with undifferentiated access to well known relays, to fetch content from not followed people.
https://raw.githack.com/dtonon/oracolo/master/examples/fiatj...
https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/65.md
Still, the short answer to your question would be "yes."
https://mikedilger.com/gossip-model/
It is of course possible to combine this approach with undifferentiated access to well known relays, to fetch content from not followed people.