An approach is provided for controlling access to resources according to social connections and/or characteristics of the resources. An access control platform determines one or more resources associated with at least one user, at least one device associated with the at least one user, or a combination thereof. The access control platform further processes and/or facilitates a processing of social networking information associated with the at least one user, the at least one device, or a combination thereof to determine one or more social networking groups. The access control platform also causes, at least in part, a controlling of access to the one or more resources for one or more other users, one or more other devices associated with the one or more other users, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on membership in the one or more social networking groups.