Method for generating social network activity streams

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to notify users of an online social network of an activity performed within a web site that is external to the online social network by an individual who is a registered user of the online social network and the web site, by performing the steps of:

• receiving a notification package from the external web site, the notification package including a notification message that describes the activity performed;
• parsing the notification package to extract a list of recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message;
• and
• issuing the notification message to each of the recipients.

A computer system for an online social network that is configured to notify users of the online social network of an activity performed within a web site that is external to the online social network by an individual who is a registered user of the online social network and the web site, comprising:

• a database that stores profiles of the users of the online social network, the profiles including a profile of the individual and identifiers of other users of the online social network who are indicated to be friends of the individual;
• and
• a processor programmed to receive a notification package from the external web site, parse the notification package to extract a list of recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message, and issue the notification message to each of the recipients,
• wherein the number of the recipients is less than the number of the other users of the online social network who are indicated to be friends of the individual.