A system and method for controlling a set-top box through a social network. Access is granted to control the set-top box to one or more contacts of a user. The one or more contacts being associated with one or more social networks. Access to control the set-top box is granted to one or more contacts of one or more social networks. A request to change media content is received from one of the one or more contacts. The one or more contacts are authenticated to ensure they are authorized to tune the set-top box to the media content. The media content is tuned in for communication to a display in response to authenticating the request from the one of the one or more contacts.