Patent ID: 8090666

Claim:
A social networking system, comprising: memory for storing information associated with followers of one of a plurality of participants of a social network, the participants including at least one of a person, a group of persons, and a project; and a processor for: displaying to the participant a first one of a plurality of web pages associated with an account of the participant with the social network, the first web page graphically representing a social hierarchy utilizing a plurality of circles, each circle including followers of a different level of closeness to the participant, wherein each of the circles is associated with a different set of content provided to the followers, such that for each circle, followers included in the circle are provided a different set of content than followers included in the other circles; receiving a selection from the participant of one of the circles via the first web page, and in response to the selection: displaying to the participant the followers included in the selected circle; and presenting at least one option to the participant for configuring a membership price associated with the selected circle; wherein the system is operable such that in response to an indication by one of the followers of a desire to join another one of the circles associated with a set of content larger than one of the circles associated with a most limited set of content, the follower is elevated to the other one of the circles associated with the larger set of content, based on payment of a membership price associated with the other one of the circles associated with the larger set of content.