Building social networks using shared content data relating to a common interest

A computer-implemented method of defining and utilizing information within a social network comprising:

• creating an interest group consisting of a plurality of members who share an interest;
• storing content data relating to the interest on a computing device operated by each user of the plurality of members;
• deriving recommendation information for the plurality of members regarding the interest;
• and
• providing the recommendation information to the user in response to a query from the user to the plurality of members related to a decision to be made by the user or an action to be taken by the user.

A computer-implemented method for providing social network interaction comprising:

• formulating a query to reach a decision about an item of interest;
• identifying consultants with expertise with respect to the interest;
• transmitting the query to one or more of the consultants;
• obtaining recommendations from at least one consultant of the consultants;
• accessing content data representing objects related to an aspect of the interest on a computing device operated by the at least one consultant;
• tabulating the recommendations to provide a suggested decision strategy.