System and method for curtailing objectionable behavior in a web-based social network

A computer readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a computing device for performing a method for curtailing objectionable behavior in a social network, the method comprising:

• receiving from a first user of the social network a current action that affects a second user of the social network;
• determining whether a combination of the current action and prior actions by the first user exceeds a policy threshold that is at least partially time dependent;
• and
• taking a corrective action if the threshold is exceeded.

A system for curtailing objectionable behavior in a social network comprising:

• a communication module configured to receive from a first user a current action that affects a second user of the social network;
• an accounts module configured to record the current action and associated time stamp information;
• a policy module configured to store a policy threshold that is time dependent;
• and
• a violation module configured to determine whether a combination of the current action and the prior actions by the first user exceeds the policy threshold, and to take corrective action if the policy threshold is exceeded.