Methods and systems for recommending media content

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that provides diverse and reliable media content suggestions. Specifically, the media guidance application may monitor user preferences of a select group of friends of the user and base media recommendations on those user preferences. The media guidance application may determine close friends of the user, such as friends that a user regularly communicates with, and include recommendations on the media preferences of only those close friends.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A method of recommending media content, the method comprising:
 storing, in a database, a closeness metric corresponding to a social media network contact of a user, wherein the closeness metric is based on a number of mutual friends between the user and the social media network contact;   retrieving a recommendation threshold from the database;   automatically adjusting the recommendation threshold based on one from the group of: the number of mutual friends and a predetermined recommendation threshold;   comparing the closeness metric to the adjusted recommendation threshold; and   in response to determining that the closeness metric exceeds the adjusted recommendation threshold, transmitting, to a display device, a media content recommendation based on a determined preference of the social media network contact.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising determining a value of the closeness metric based on the number of mutual friends. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the recommendation threshold is a minimum value of the closeness metric for generating media content recommendations. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the predetermined recommendation threshold is one of a plurality of predetermined recommendation thresholds. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising storing, in the database, a record of the social media network contact. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising cross-referencing the record of the social media network contact with a database listing preferences of social media network contacts to determine the preference of the social media network contact. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 accessing media interests posted on a social media profile of the social media network contact; and   determining the preference of the social media network contact based on the posted media interests.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 accessing a media consumption history of the social media network contact; and   determining the preference of the social media network contact based on the media consumption history of the social media network contact.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 accessing content posted on a social media profile of the social media network contact;   determining whether the content posted on the social media profile of the social media network contact is related to media content;   in response to determining that the content posted on the social media profile of the social media network contact is related to media content, determining a characteristic of the media content; and   determining the preference of the social media network contact based on the characteristic of the media content.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 accessing an electronic communication between the social media network contact and the user;   determining whether the electronic communication includes a reference to media content;   in response to determining that the electronic communication includes a reference to media content, determining a characteristic of the media content; and   determining the preference of the social media network contact based on the characteristic of the media content.   
     
     
         61 . A system for recommending media content, the system comprising:
 control circuitry; and   a memory storing instructions, which when executed by the control circuitry, cause the control circuitry to:
 store, in a database, a closeness metric corresponding to a social media network contact of a user, wherein the closeness metric is based on a number of mutual friends between the user and the social media network contact; 
 retrieve a recommendation threshold from the database 
 automatically adjust the recommendation threshold based on one from the group of: the number of mutual friends and a predetermined recommendation threshold; 
 compare the closeness metric to the adjusted recommendation threshold; and 
 in response to determining that the closeness metric exceeds the adjusted recommendation threshold, transmit, to a display device, a media content recommendation based on a determined preference of the social media network contact. 
   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to determine a value of the closeness metric based on the number of mutual friends. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the recommendation threshold is a minimum value of the closeness metric for generating media content recommendations. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the predetermined recommendation threshold is one of a plurality of predetermined recommendation thresholds. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to, in the database, a record of the social media network contact. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to cross-reference the record of the social media network contact with a database listing preferences of social media network contacts to determine the preference of the social media network contact. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to:
 access media interests posted on a social media profile of the social media network contact; and   determine the preference of the social media network contact based on the posted media interests.   
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to:
 access a media consumption history of the social media network contact; and   determine the preference of the social media network contact based on the media consumption history of the social media network contact.   
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to:
 access content posted on a social media profile of the social media network contact;   determine whether the content posted on the social media profile of the social media network contact is related to media content;   in response to determining that the content posted on the social media profile of the social media network contact is related to media content, determine a characteristic of the media content; and   determine the preference of the social media network contact based on the characteristic of the media content.   
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to:
 access an electronic communication between the social media network contact and the user;   determine whether the electronic communication includes a reference to media content;   in response to determining that the electronic communication includes a reference to media content, determine a characteristic of the media content; and   determine the preference of the social media network contact based on the characteristic of the media content.