A method, system and computer program product for maintaining relationships between users in a social network. Online interactions between users in the social network are monitored. A period of inactivity of communication from a first user to a second user in the social network is determined based on the time of the last communication from the first user to the second user. If the period of inactivity exceeds a threshold, then a communication posted by the second user in the social network is selected, such as based on popularity. The selected communication posted by the second user is then emphasized in an activity stream (e.g., news feed) of the first user. In this manner, by emphasizing a communication posted by the second user in an activity stream of the first user, the relationship between the first and second users may continue to be active.