A messaging system for exchanging data over a network, configuring an intermediate connection tier system that provides a multi-tier connections messaging framework. The intermediate connection tier system generates, based on the contact data of a user, an intermediate tier of connected user accounts. Each account in the intermediate tier of connected user accounts is provided with messaging privileges with respect to the account of the user, without being associated with expanded access connection tier links, sometimes referred to as friendship links, between their respective accounts with respect to the account of the user.