Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for providing third party events in a social network are described. Aspects of the disclosure provide for the introduction of events into a social network. These events may be introduced to the social network via one or more event data feeds that are processed by a data funnel. The data funnel extracts and parses event data from the event data feeds for generation of new events for the social network. These events may be vetted or moderated by a third party, such as an administrator or moderator, or they may be automatically verified by the data funnel based upon the data feed from which the event is parsed. Media content may be uploaded and associated to events using a client device.

Abstract: An Internet (web based) system is adapted for enriching a user's college experience by helping the user discover and keep informed of events, activities, organizations (e.g., clubs), lectures, local businesses (i.e., merchant advertisements) and other matters that may be of particular interest to the user based on a “user interests profile” generated from personal data collected from the user. The system provides a searchable and current directory of events, activities, organizations and other matters of interest to students at a particular university. A notification feature provides updates and reminders to each individual student member (user) through a medium(s) that the user chooses (e.g., email, text messaging, RSS, calendar) to keep informed of events and to suggest other events that might be of interest to the user. The system further supports an advertising mechanism for delivering targeted advertisements of local businesses to particular users based on their specific user interests profiles.