The invention generally relates to a tool for secure sharing and collaborative editing of content over a communication network. The invention provides systems and methods for dividing content into component parts of content data and/or editing parameters which may be individually attributed to their respective authors. Systems and methods of the invention relate to compiling content from these components for display or other output on a computing device. Content authors may retain ownership rights and privacy control over their individual contributions to collaborative content through selection of privacy parameters and distribution of volatile copies of content designed with optional copying, transferring, and/or viewing restrictions at an individual component level. By minimizing the number and size of data transfers necessary in the collaborative creation of content, systems and methods of the invention can also minimize security risks, data loss, and costs associated with data transfer over a network.