Method and apparatus for determining a group preference in a social network

A method of electronically determining a group preference in a social network from a plurality of individual preferences of members of the social network, the method comprising:

• determining when a portable electronic communication device is in communication with the social network;
• obtaining individual preferences from the members, wherein at least some of the individual preferences are different;
• determining an importance of the social network to at least one individual based upon social network importance information;
• determining, with one or more processors and stored program instructions configured to control the processors, an individual importance for a plurality of the members to the social network from a plurality of importance factors, the importance factors comprising at least a geographic location of a member relative to the social network and an ability of the member to contribute information to, or access information from, the network communication channels;
• and
• generating, with the one or more processors, the group preference from weighted individual preferences.