Promoting participation of low-activity users in social networking system

BACKGROUND

0001This invention relates to retaining users in a social networking system by resuming or increasing interactions between the users of the social networking system.

0002The success of a social networking system hinges on attracting and retaining users, and encouraging those users to be active in the social networking system. Attracting and retaining users are important for at least the following two reasons. First, the number of users is critical to the number and quality of interactions between the users. As the number of the users increases, more user-generated content (UGC) (including postings and media items) become available via the social networking system. The increase in the UGC contributes to the increase in the number and quality of interactions between the users. Conversely, if the social networking system loses active users, the number and quality of interactions between the users tend to deteriorate, as the number and quality of the UGC deteriorate.

0003Second, the advertisement revenue of the social networking system depends largely on the number of active users. Many social networking systems do not charge fees for membership. Instead, these social networking systems rely on revenue generated from online advertisements to sustain their business. With more revenue, the social networking system in turn can attract more users by adding more resources (e.g., servers) and/or providing other useful services. Hence, attracting and retaining active users in the social networking systems are also important from the business perspective of the social networking systems.

0004To attract and retain users and to encourage the users to interact, social networking systems have traditionally relied on various methods, such as providing unique and helpful information unavailable in other services, advertising the social networking system, compensating referrals from other websites or users, and providing free access to resources such as storage space or data (e.g., media items). Such ways of attracting and retaining users have limited efficacy, and hence, users of the social networking systems tend to decrease gradually as other competing systems emerge.

SUMMARY

0005Embodiments relate to encouraging greater participation of a low-activity user in a social networking system, where the low-activity user is one who is currently showing a low level of activity within a social networking system. A user's level of activity in the social networking system may be measured in any of a number of ways, such as the frequency of logging in, viewing pages, or interacting with other users. To encourage greater participation of a low-activity user, the social networking system sends a recommendation to another user of the social networking system that has an established connection to the low-activity user, where the recommendation suggests that the other user interact in some way with the low-activity user. The recommendation may be sent to the user in response to the user's interaction with the social networking system. The recommendation may also include a link that enables the user to perform the suggested interactions with the low-activity user by choosing to take an action according to the recommendation. By encouraging users of a social networking system to interact with low-activity users, the low-activity user's experience in the social networking system is improved, and the low-activity user is thus more likely to become a more active participant in the social networking system.

0006In one embodiment, the action items suggested in the recommendation are determined based on at least one of (i) information about the low-activity user, (ii) whether a recommendation was previously made or acted upon by other users and/or (iii) media source items (e.g., audio files, video files, image files, links and postings) provided by the low-activity user.

0007In one embodiment, the page of information comprises one or more user interface elements for display to the user. Each user interface element representing an action item for encouraging the low-activity user to increase activities in the social networking system. When the user selects one of the user interface elements, an action item corresponding to the selected user interface element is initiated.

0008In one embodiment, an affinity between the user and the user's connections are determined. To generate a recommendation for the user, the social networking system selects a low-activity user from among the user's connections based at least in part on the user's affinity for the user's connections. In this way, the recommendation is more likely to be acted upon, since the user receiving the recommendation is more likely to be interested in the low-activity user who is the subject of the recommendation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing a social networking system, according to one embodiment.

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a computing device for providing the social networking system, according to one embodiment.

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating a user device for accessing the social networking system, according to one embodiment.

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a process of inducing interactions with low-activity users in a social networking system, according to one embodiment.

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a graphical user interface displayed on the user device, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0014The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications of the invention and their requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

0015Embodiments of the present invention provide an intervention scheme that allows a social networking system to identify low-activity users who are likely to become inactive/dormant users and prompting users to initiate interactions with the low-activity users. The low-activity users are identified by monitoring activities and the users' interactions via the social networking system. If the pattern of activities or interactions satisfies one or more criteria, the social networking system initiates an intervention scheme where the user is recommended to take actions that induce interactions with the low-activity users. In response to the interactions, the low-activity users are likely to resume interactions via the social networking system. In this way, the likelihood that the low-activity users will become inactive or dormant is reduced.

0016A low-activity user described herein refers to a user of a social networking system showing a low level of actions in the social networking system, and is likely to become inactive or dormant user. If a user becomes inactive or dormant, the user no longer actively interacts with other users via the social networking system.

0017Connections described herein are usually in both directions, but need not be. For example, if Nair and Sam are both users and connected to each other on the social networking system, Nair and Sam, both users, are also each other's connections. If, on the other hand, Nair wishes to connect to Sam to view Sam's posts, but Sam does not wish to form a mutual connection, a one-way connection is also possible. The connection between users may be a direct connection; however, some embodiments of a social networking system allow the connection to be indirect via one or more levels of connections or degrees or separation. Also, the term connection need not require that users actually be connections in real life, (which would generally be the case when one of the users is a business or other entity); it simply implies a connection in the social networking system. Further, not all social networking systems require membership, so the term “user” can refer to any user interacting with or using a social networking system, with or without having a membership.

0018A page of information described herein refers to any type of media content that may be provided by a social networking system. The page of information may be in the form of a webpage that embeds source media items such as, video files, audio files, images, comments, documents, maps, and a status message indicating what a user is doing, interested in or engaged in.

0019The “user” described herein refers to any user of a social networking system. A user can be an individual person, a group (e.g., a band or club), a business enterprise, or even a fictional character or entity.

0020Affinity as described herein refers to strength of connections or ties between the users. Not all connections between the users may be equal. For example, a user having a high affinity with another user may share strong interest and/or communicate extensively between each other. In contrast, a user having a low affinity with another user may share little or no interest and communicate infrequently with each other.

Architecture and Operation of System

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram illustrating a social networking system <b>100</b> according to one embodiment. The system <b>100</b> includes, among other components, user devices <b>104</b> and a computing device <b>108</b>. The user devices <b>104</b> are connected via a network <b>110</b> (e.g., Internet) to the computing device <b>108</b>. The system <b>100</b> may include other components not illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. For example, the system <b>100</b> may include a payment system for clearing any financial transactions performed via the computing device <b>108</b>.

0022The computing device <b>108</b> maintains data for providing the social networking system to the users. The computing device <b>108</b> may, for example, be implemented on a server that is located remotely from the user devices <b>104</b>. The computing device <b>108</b> may also include various servers (not shown) for caching frequently requested data objects, and network security devices (not shown) for preventing unauthorized access to data. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates only a single computing device, the computing device <b>108</b> may consist of multiple servers operating in concert. In one embodiment, the computing device <b>108</b> includes components, as described below in detail with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0023The user devices <b>104</b> are accessed by users to take advantage of the social networking system. The user devices <b>104</b> may include, but are not limited to, personal computers, mobile phones, personal navigation devices (PNDs), music players, gaming consoles, handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), networking devices, cameras, GPS receivers, netbooks and smartphones. An example user device <b>104</b> is described below in detail with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

0024In one embodiment, a user initiates communication with the computing device <b>108</b> using the user device <b>104</b>. Authentication information (e.g., user ID and password) is sent from the user device <b>104</b> to the computing device <b>108</b> via the network <b>110</b>. After authenticating the user, the computing device <b>108</b> generates and sends a page of information (e.g., a webpage) for the user. The user may also upload source media items (e.g., postings and video files) to the computing device <b>108</b> via the user device <b>104</b>. The uploaded source media items may be stored in the computing device <b>108</b> and may be used as source information for generating customized page of information for other users.

Social Networking System

0025In one embodiment, the computing device <b>108</b> performs a large bulk of operations associated with providing the social networking systems to the users. The user devices <b>104</b>, on the other hand, are assigned with less intensive operations, mostly associated with interfacing with the users. In most cases, the computing device <b>108</b> will have much larger computation capacity and storage capacity compared to the user devices <b>104</b>.

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram illustrating the computing device <b>108</b> for providing the social networking system, according to one embodiment. The computing device <b>108</b> may include, among other components, social networking system database <b>212</b>, user communication module <b>220</b>, content repository <b>216</b>, user activity monitor <b>224</b>, action recommendation module <b>228</b>, content item processor <b>232</b>, and user affinity engine <b>242</b>. One or more components of the computing device <b>108</b> may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combinations thereof. Although illustrated as separate modules, two or more components of the computing device <b>108</b> may be combined into a single module. In one embodiment, at least some of these components are implemented as a set of computer instructions that are stored in memory and executed by a processor in the computing device <b>108</b>.

0027The user communication module <b>220</b> communicates with the user devices <b>104</b> via the network <b>110</b>. The user communication module <b>220</b> may include network cards, routers, other networking devices, and software or firmware for communicating with the user devices <b>104</b> over the network <b>110</b> using networking protocols such as TCP/IP. In one embodiment, the user communication module <b>220</b> is configured to simultaneously establish sessions with multiple users.

0028The social networking system database <b>212</b> stores data associated with users of the social networking system, including but not limited to, user authentication data, user profiles, user activity data (e.g., log information), a social relationship map, and privacy settings of the users. The user activity data indicate the level of interactions each user is having with other users via the social networking system. As described below, the user activity data are analyzed and processed by the user activity monitor <b>224</b> to identify low-activity users. The social relationship map indicates the social relationships between users. The privacy setting indicates the extent to which the information is to be shared with other users.

0029The user affinity engine <b>242</b> accesses the social networking system database <b>212</b> to determine the affinity between the users. More specifically, the user affinity engine <b>242</b> analyzes the social relationships between the users and determines the degree of affinity between users. The higher degree of affinity between two users translates to a higher likelihood that two users may affect each other's behavior. The user affinity engine <b>242</b> may be implemented using, for example, the technology disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/503,093, entitled “Systems and Methods for Measuring User Affinity in a Social Network Environment,” filed on Aug. 11, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In one embodiment, the user affinity engine <b>242</b> updates the social map to indicate the degree of affinity between the users.

0030The user activity monitor <b>224</b> reads information stored in the social networking system database <b>212</b> to identify low-activity users. The low-activity users are identified based on one or more criteria including, but not limited to, (i) login frequency to the social networking system dropping below a threshold, (ii) decreasing trend in the login frequency, (iii) the amount of data transmitted over the social networking system (e.g., number of the user posts content and numbers of user profile page downloads), (iv) the number of interactions (e.g., number of messages exchanged, number of participations in online events, and number of feeds received) with other users, (v) the average login time, (vi) reference to other social networking systems in the users' messages, (vii) the number of connections to other users in the social network, (viii) the number of page views and (ix) clicks or impressions viewed. In one embodiment, the user activity monitor <b>224</b> adopts a point system that assigns different points or scores to any of these factors. In this embodiment, a user is identified as a low-activity user if the accumulated points or scores exceed a threshold or drops below a threshold.

0031The action recommendation module <b>228</b> determines action items to be taken to promote the participation of the low-activity users. The action recommendation module <b>228</b> receives, from the user affinity engine <b>242</b>, information about the low-activity users from the user activity monitor <b>224</b> and the information about other users having a high degree of affinity with the low-activity users from the user affinity engine <b>242</b>. Based on the identify of the low-activity users and the other users having close social relationships with the low-activity users, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> determines the action items to be recommended to the users for promoting participation of the low-activity users. In most circumstances, the users to whom the action items are recommended are highly active users but any users including the low-activity users may be recommended with action items.

0032The actions for recommendation to the users include, among others, (i) writing or posting content related to the low-activity users, (ii) introducing another user with whom the low-activity users may form social relationships, (iii) suggesting updating of the user profiles of the low-activity users, (iv) sending or posting messages associated with the low-activity users (e.g., commenting on photos of the low-activity users, sending messages wishing the low-activity user a happy birthday, and leaving messages on the low-activity user's page or wall), (v) sending gifts (including virtual points or credit) to the low-activity users, and (vi) tagging photos of the low-activity user.

0033In one embodiment, different activities may be recommended on a rotating basis to the users. That is, if a user was recommended to write or post contents about a low-activity user, another user may be recommended to send messages to the same low-activity user. The page of information presented to the user is described below in detail with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. In another embodiment, different action items may be recommended to the users in a random fashion. When randomly suggesting action items, frequency capping may be implemented so that an activity is no longer recommended after the same action item is recommended to the same or different users over a certain frequency threshold.

0034In one embodiment, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> keeps track of actions taken by the users in response to the recommendation. The action recommendation module <b>228</b> may maintain statistical data related to the frequency that the recommended activity was taken by the other users. The data stored in the action recommendation module may include, among others, timestamps, viewer ID, types of action items in the recommendation and ID of target user. Moreover, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> may also record the frequency that the low-activity user responded to the user's action. Based on the statistical data, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> may prioritize action items that are more likely to induce low-activity users' actions. For example, if a user successfully prompted a low-activity user to interact by engaging in one type of action item, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> may make the same recommendation to another user to promote the interaction with the same low-activity user. Further, the statistical data may be used to identify key users important to expanding or maintaining active users in the social networking system. Such key users may be rewarded in various manners to ensure their continued participation in the social networking system.

0035The content repository <b>216</b> stores data for generating the page of information for users. The data stored in the content repository <b>216</b> may include various types of media source items such as audio files, video files, image files, links and postings. The media source items are used as source information for creating a page of information customized for each user. In one embodiment, the content repository <b>216</b> is implemented as a database.

0036The content item processor <b>232</b> generates the page of information for the users based on the media source items available from the content repository <b>216</b>. In one embodiment, the page of information is customized for each user based on the user profiles or connections with other users. The content item processor <b>232</b> also receives recommended action items from the action recommendation module <b>228</b>. Based on the recommended action items, the content item processor <b>232</b> includes user interface elements (e.g., icons) representing the recommended action items in the page of information for the user. The page of information generated by the content item processor <b>232</b> is sent to the user communication module <b>220</b> for transmittal to the user devices <b>104</b>. In one embodiment, the content generated by the content item processor <b>232</b> is a webpage, as described below in detail with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.

0037Although the components of the computing device <b>108</b> are illustrated as being included in a single computing device in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, one or more components may be embodied on a separate computer. Further, in order to serve a large number of users, the computing device <b>108</b> may consist of a large number of servers and networking equipments that may be located in a single geographic region or in different geographic regions.

0038In one embodiment, the computing device <b>108</b> includes a processor, memory and a bus connecting the processor and the memory. The memory is a computer-readable storage medium that stores a plurality of computer instruction modules for performing functions of each component described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The instructions in the memory is retrieved and executed by the processor. In another embodiment, the computer device <b>108</b> includes firmware and hardware dedicated to perform the functions of the components described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

Example User Device for Accessing the Social Networking System

0039<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a block diagram illustrating the user device <b>104</b> for accessing the social networking system, according to one embodiment. The main function of the user device <b>104</b> in the context of social networking system is to interface with the users. The user device <b>104</b> may include, among other components, screen <b>320</b>, communication module <b>330</b>, central processor <b>340</b>, input device <b>350</b>, memory <b>360</b>, and bus <b>344</b> connecting these components. The user device <b>104</b> may include other components (e.g., speaker) that are not illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

0040The screen <b>320</b> presents visual information to the user. The visual information may include, among others, information associated with accessing the social networking system and other services accessible via the user device <b>104</b>.

0041The communication module <b>330</b> communicates with the computing device <b>108</b> over the network <b>110</b> to access the social networking system. The communication module <b>330</b> may include, for example, a network card or a modem. The communication module <b>330</b> may communicate with the network <b>110</b> via a wireless or wired communication protocol.

0042The central processor <b>340</b> reads and executes instructions from the memory <b>360</b>. The central processor <b>340</b> controls other components of the user device <b>104</b> according to the instructions. Although a single processor is illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the user device <b>104</b> may include multiple processors to increase its computational capacity.

0043The input device <b>350</b> may include various user interface devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad and a touchscreen. Two or more input modules may be provided as the input device <b>350</b> to facilitate various types of user interactions.

0044The memory <b>360</b> stores data including, among others, computer instruction modules for performing certain functions of the user device <b>104</b>. The instructions stored in the memory <b>360</b> may be read and executed by the central processor <b>340</b>. Among other computer instruction modules, the memory <b>360</b> stores a service interface module <b>364</b>. The service interface module <b>364</b> is an application used for accessing and interfacing with the social networking system. In one embodiment, the service interface module <b>364</b> is embodied as a web browser. In another embodiment, the service interface <b>364</b> is a software program dedicated to accessing the social networking system.

Method of Promoting Engagement of Low-Activity Users

0045<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a process of inducing low-activity users to engage with and interact within a social networking system, according to one embodiment. First, the computing device <b>108</b> receives <b>402</b> a request for a page of information from a user. In one embodiment, the service interface <b>364</b> sends the request for the page of information automatically to the computing device <b>108</b> after the user logs onto the social networking system.

0046The user activity monitor <b>224</b> accesses the information stored in the social networking system database <b>212</b> to identify <b>408</b> the low-activity users having connections with the logged-in user. The accessed information in the social networking system may include, among others, log information indicating the time and duration of the users' access to the social networking system, the amount of data sent or received via the social networking system, and the count of interactions (e.g., number of messages exchanged, number of participations in online events, and number of feeds received) with of the users via the social networking system.

0047In one embodiment, the user activity monitor <b>224</b> also receives information from the content repository <b>216</b> such as the total number or size of data items that a particular user stored in or retrieved from the content repository <b>216</b>.

0048In one embodiment, the user affinity engine <b>242</b> selects <b>410</b>, for each user, target low-activity users to recommend action items. If there are more than one low-activity users having connections with the logged-in user, the low-activity users may be prioritized based on the likelihood that the low-activity users will respond to the logged-in user's action. Various criteria such as degree of affinity may be considered in determining the likelihood that the low-activity users will respond. For example, a low-activity user having a high degree of affinity with the user is chosen over other low-activity users having a low degree of affinity with the requesting user. In an alternative embodiment, the low-activity users for intervention are selected randomly without taking into account the degree of affinity between the users. In still another embodiment, the user affinity engine <b>242</b> selects, for each target low-activity user, connected users to recommend action items that may invoke the low-activity user's participation.

0049In one embodiment, the user affinity monitor <b>242</b> may analyze information (e.g., a social map) in the social networking system database <b>212</b> to determine which low-activity users have a connection with the logged-in user. The user affinity monitor <b>242</b> may also determine the degree of affinity between the users, for example, using, the technology disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/503,093, entitled “Systems and Methods for Measuring User Affinity in a Social Network Environment,” filed on Aug. 11, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

0050The action recommendation module <b>228</b> then determines <b>414</b> one or more action items to be taken by the user to induce the low-activity user's action. The action items to be taken may be determined based on one or more of the following factors: (i) the profile of the low-activity user, (ii) the profile of the user, (iii) media source items provided by the low-activity user, (iv) likelihood that the user will choose to perform the action items, and (v) the low-activity user's previous interactions with other users in the social networking system. For example, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> may analyze the profile information of the low-activity user to determine if the low-activity user's birthday or wedding anniversary is approaching, and recommend action items associated with such anniversary to the logged-in user (e.g., send a message wishing happy birthday). Alternatively, the action recommendation module <b>228</b> may determine the action items randomly.

0051Based on the determined action items, the content item processor <b>232</b> prepares <b>418</b> a page of information embedding the user interface elements (e.g., icon or links). Each user interface element represents the determined action items. In one embodiment, the page of information includes various types of media source items such as audio files, video files, image files, links and postings. Some of such media source items may be user-generated content (UGC) provided by other users of the social networking system. The page of information for a user may be customized to include “feed” from other connected users, for example, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/503,242 entitled “System and Method for Dynamically Providing a News Feed about a User of a Social Network,” filed on Aug. 11, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

0052The generated page of information is then sent <b>422</b> to the logged-in user that requested the page of information. Specifically, the generated page of information may be sent via the network <b>110</b> to the user device <b>104</b> of the user that requested the page of information. After receiving the page of information, the user may choose to perform an action item as recommended in the page of information. In one embodiment, a reward is awarded to the user who chooses to perform a recommended action item. The reward, for example, may be virtual credits, gifts or items.

0053The user's action item performed by the user may create a newsfeed as described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/503,037, entitled “Communicating a Newsfeed of Media Content Based on a Member's Interactions in a Social Network Environment,” filed on Aug. 11, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

0054The sequence of steps in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is merely illustrative. Various modifications may be made to the method including performing some steps in parallel, performing steps in a sequence different from what is illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, and adding additional steps. For example, the step <b>408</b> of identifying the low-activity user may be performed before the step <b>402</b> of receiving the request for page from the user.

Example Page of Information Recommending Actions by Users

0055<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a graphical user interface <b>500</b> displayed on the user device <b>104</b>, according to one embodiment. The graphical user interface <b>500</b> includes source content area <b>520</b> and recommendation area <b>530</b>. The source content area <b>520</b> includes one or more source media items such as postings, video files, audio files, and links stored in the content repository <b>216</b>. The user of the user device <b>114</b> may choose to upload and publish media source item by providing files or messages in user input area <b>512</b>. The media source items provided by the user may then be stored in the content repository <b>216</b> for sharing with other users having social relationships with the user.

0056The user may also choose a webpage to view by clicking an item in navigation area <b>514</b> in the source content area <b>520</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates “Newsfeed” as currently being selected for display.

0057The recommendation area <b>530</b> includes recommendations to induce interactions of the low-activity users. In the example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, five low-activity users are listed in areas <b>542</b> through <b>558</b>. These low-activity users are identified by the user activity monitor <b>224</b>, as described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. For each low-activity user, recommended action items such as “write on his wall,” “suggest friends to him,” “suggest a profile picture,” “wish her happy birthday,” and “send him a message” are provided. The recommended action items are selected by the action recommendation module <b>228</b> for inclusion in the page of information <b>500</b>, as described above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0058Bars <b>560</b> and <b>564</b> indicate the degree that the profile of the corresponding users is completed. In the example of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, John King's profile is 30% completed and Parker Sato's profile is 50% completed.

0059Each of areas <b>542</b> through <b>558</b> include a link for sending a request to the computing device <b>108</b> when the user presented with the page of information <b>500</b> clicks any of these areas <b>542</b> through <b>558</b>. After receiving the request, the computing device <b>108</b> may then perform operations chosen by the user or send a subsequent page of information (e.g., webpage) that facilitates the user to accomplish the chosen action item (e.g., present a webpage for sending a message to a low-activity user).

0060In another embodiment, the recommendation area <b>530</b> may include action items for other active users as well as low-activity users. The action items in the recommendation area <b>530</b> may be arranged in a manner that does not distinguish action items for user and action items for low-activity users. Alternatively, the recommendation area <b>530</b> may include indications as to which users are a low-active and which users are not low-activity users.

0061The page of information <b>500</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is merely illustrative. Various media source items may be provided in different arrangements. For example, the source content area <b>520</b> and the recommendation area <b>530</b> may not be clearly distinguished into different sections of the page of information. Further, various types of other actions may be recommended for the low-activity users.

0062The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.

0063Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof.

0064Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described.

0065Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability.

0066Embodiments of the invention may also relate to a product that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product may comprise information resulting from a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination described herein.

0067Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.