System and methods for providing private social networks, which are cloud-based in some instances, are provided herein. A method includes receiving a selection of the digital data on a private user secure data storage device from a first user, receiving a selection of one or more individuals to be given access to the digital data, applying access rights for the digital data, creating a URL that points to a location within the private user secure data storage device where the digital data resides, posting the URL to a plurality of social networks using a shared message, receiving a request from a second user for the digital data when the second user clicks the URL in the shared message, and serving the digital data to the second user directly from the private user secure data storage device without storing the digital data on any of the plurality of social networks.