Abstract: A method of providing virtual meeting environments for user controlled avatars. Each avatar is associated with user information from at least one social network (Facebook), and the user's profile picture and sex controls the general appearance of the avatars. The avatar's appearance can also be customized according to their user's social network relationships such as friends, friends of friends, or strangers. Various online virtual events, such as virtual parties, meeting rooms and the like may be created, and other social network users invited to participate by sending their avatars to the meeting environment. There the avatars may move about and interact with one another according to real-world rules, such as the rule that only avatars that are portrayed as physically being closely associated to each other in the virtual world may chat or interact, as well as exchange social network user information. Virtual environment search engines are also provided.