A method for notifying users of an online social network of an activity performed within a web site that is external to the online social network by an individual who is a registered user of the online social network and the web site. The method comprises the steps of receiving a notification package from the external web site, the notification package including a notification message that describes the activity performed, parsing the notification package to extract a list of recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message, and issuing the notification message to each of the recipients.