Control for inviting an unaythenticated user to gain access to display of content that is otherwise accessible with an authentication mechanism

A method comprising:

• associating, via a computing device, electronic content with an authenticated user, said authenticated user is a member of a computerized, online social network, said social network hosted by an electronic service and enabled for communication to and from authenticated users of the social network in addition to communication to and from authenticated and unauthenticated users;
• associating, via the computing device, the electronic content with a user relationship involving the authenticated user, said user relationship is created and controlled by the authenticated user;
• transmitting, via the computing device, a request generated by the authenticated user for the unauthenticated user to join said user relationship, said request comprising a request by said electronic service for said unauthenticated user to join said social network, said request further comprising an invitation by said authenticated user for said unauthenticated user to access said electronic content in accordance with a relationship category, said relationship category designated by said authenticated user and relates to an updated version of said electronic content and associations between said content and said user relationship;
• receiving, at the computing device, a response to said request from said unauthenticated user, said response comprising information representative said authenticated user intends to join said user relationship and said social network;
• and
• establishing, via the computing device, the user relationship between the authenticated user and unauthenticated user, said establishing comprising enabling access for said unauthenticated user to at least a portion of said electronic content associated with the user relationship based at least in part upon said relationship category.

A computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions, that when executed by a computing device, performs a method comprising:

• associating electronic content with an authenticated user, said authenticated user is a member of a computerized, online social network, said social network hosted by an electronic service and enabled for communication to and from authenticated users of the social network in addition to communication to and from authenticated and unauthenticated users;
• associating the electronic content with a user relationship involving the authenticated user, said user relationship is created and controlled by the authenticated user;
• transmitting a request generated by the authenticated user for the unauthenticated user to join said user relationship, said request comprising a request by said electronic service for said unauthenticated user to join said social network, said request further comprising an invitation by said authenticated user for said unauthenticated user to access said electronic content in accordance with a relationship category, said relationship category designated by said authenticated user and relates to an updated version of said electronic content and associations between said content and said user relationship;
• receiving a response to said request from said unauthenticated user, said response comprising information representative said authenticated user intends to join said user relationship and said social network;
• and
• establishing the user relationship between the authenticated user and unauthenticated user, said establishing comprising enabling access for said unauthenticated user to at least a portion of said electronic content associated with the user relationship based at least in part upon said relationship category.

A system comprising:

• at least one computing device comprising:
• memory storing computer-executable instructions;
• and
• one or more processors for executing said computer-executable instructions, comprising:
• associating electronic content with an authenticated user, said authenticated user is a member of a computerized, online social network, said social network hosted by an electronic service and enabled for communication to and from authenticated users of the social network in addition to communication to and from authenticated and unauthenticated users;
• associating the electronic content with a user relationship involving the authenticated user, said user relationship is created and controlled by the authenticated user;
• transmitting a request generated by the authenticated user for the unauthenticated user to join said user relationship, said request comprising a request by said electronic service for said unauthenticated user to join said social network, said request further comprising an invitation by said authenticated user for said unauthenticated user to access said electronic content in accordance with a relationship category, said relationship category designated by said authenticated user and relates to an updated version of said electronic content and associations between said content and said user relationship;
• receiving a response to said request from said unauthenticated user, said response comprising information representative said authenticated user intends to join said user relationship and said social network;
• and
• establishing the user relationship between the authenticated user and unauthenticated user, said establishing comprising enabling access for said unauthenticated user to at least a portion of said electronic content associated with the user relationship based at least in part upon said relationship category.