Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for utilizing a secondary application to render invitational content. Primary content rendered by a web browser can be embedded with a command requesting that a secondary application be executed. The secondary application can be executed in a secured sand box environment and configured to render invitational content in a second window above the primary content. The secondary application can be known and trusted by the operating system to gather sensitive data used to select appropriate invitational content. Further, data can be included in the command requesting that the secondary application be executed. The invitational content can be associated with secondary views that can be rendered without affecting the primary content. The secondary application can collect data to render the secondary view, such as the exact point selected, which is used to render graphical transition effects leading to the secondary view.