An approach is provided for controlling access to social networking data for each of a plurality of members by issuing one or more first keys for at least one of data encryption or data decryption, based on a respective current trust level associated with a corresponding member and one or more context attributes corresponding to the social networking data. The one or more first keys expire at an expiration time determined with reference to a time clock. Based on a signal accepted from the time clock, one or more second keys for at least one of data encryption or data decryption are issued to one or more members of the plurality of members who are associated with a trust level above a predetermined threshold and/or who satisfy specified context attributes, prior to the expiration time of the first keys.