A method for deriving social annotations from a client contact list is disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by a client device, a request for a media item. The method further includes receiving, by the client device, the requested media item and social annotation data related to the requested media item. The received social annotation data is at least partially derived from a plurality of contact identifiers obtained from a contact list associated with the client device. The requested media item and at least one social annotation based on the social annotation data are presented by the client device.