Disclosed is a system and method for generating a preview of a digital content item using social network analysis. Members of a social network who acquire the digital content item may identify interesting portions of the digital content. When a member of the social network requests a preview of the digital content item, typically in anticipation of an acquisition of the digital content item, the interesting portions of the digital content item identified by fellow social network members are considered in the generation of the preview. Selection of the interesting content for preview may include more identified content, as well as social network relationship and role magnitudes. The digital content item may include: text, such as books or articles; multimedia such as audio/video; and interactive, such as games or virtual worlds.