1. A method comprising: by a computer system of a social-networking system, receiving authorization from a first user of the social-networking system to control at least in part one or more functions of a set-top box (STB) of the first user, the social-networking system comprising a graph that comprises a plurality of nodes and edges connecting the nodes, the nodes comprising: user nodes that are each associated with a user of the social-networking system, the user nodes comprising: a first user node associated with the first user; and a second user node associated with a second user of the social-networking system, the second user node being connected to the first user node by one or more edges in the graph; by the computer system of the social-networking system, analyzing the graph; by the computer system of the social-networking system, providing a plurality of selectable preferences to the first user, the selectable preferences comprising: a preference for the social-networking system to seek the first user's approval before directly programming the first user's STB; and a preference for the social-networking system to directly program the first user's STB without seeking further permission from the first user; by the computer system of the social-networking system, receiving an indication that the first user has selected the preference for the social-networking system to seek the first user's approval before directly programming the first user's STB; and by the computer system of the social-networking system, without the second user actively pushing media content to the first user: determining, based on the analysis of the graph, one or more posts of the second user to the social-networking system; determining, from the one or more posts of the second user to the social-networking system, particular media content that the second user is planning to watch; sending an authorization message to the first user, the authorization message comprising a hyperlink operable to permit the first user to provide their approval to record the particular media content that the second user is planning to watch, the authorization message comprising an email or a text message; and if the first user selects the hyperlink within the authorization message to approve the recording of the particular media content that the second user is planning to watch, providing one or more instructions for the STB of the first user to record the particular media content that the second user is planning to watch.