1. A computer-implemented method executed using one or more processors, the method comprising: receiving a search query from a searching user; identifying a plurality of items of digital content distributed using one or more social networking services, each item in the plurality of items being responsive to the search query; providing a set of items from the plurality of items to be displayed as social search results based on respective item scores, each item score being specific to a respective item and the searching user, and exceeding a threshold item score; and determining that one or more terms provided in the search query is an active keyword, wherein an active keyword is a keyword that has increased in popularity over a pre-defined time period, and, in response: determining, from the set of items, an event underlying the active keyword, the event determined from items that are relevant to the event and referencing the event; determining a time period during which the event occurred; determining times at which each of the items were distributed by the one or more social networking services; assigning, to a first sub-set of items, each item that is determined to: (i) be responsive to the active keyword, (ii) be relevant to the event and referencing the event, and (iii) have been distributed using the one or more social networks at a time within the time period during which the event occurred; assigning to a second sub-set of items, items that are different than items assigned to the first sub-set of items, and that are determined to: (i) be responsive to the active keyword and (ii) have been distributed using the one or more social networks at a time not within the time period during which the event occurred; providing items in the first sub-set of items for display within a set of search results responsive to the search query as social search results in a discussion stream within the set of search results; and providing items in the second sub-set of items for display within the set of search results as social search results outside of the discussion stream within the set of search results.
1. A computer-implemented method executed using one or more processors, the method comprising: receiving a search query from a searching user; identifying a plurality of items of digital content distributed using one or more social networking services, each item in the plurality of items being responsive to the search query; providing a set of items from the plurality of items to be displayed as social search results based on respective item scores, each item score being specific to a respective item and the searching user, and exceeding a threshold item score; and determining that one or more terms provided in the search query is an active keyword, wherein an active keyword is a keyword that has increased in popularity over a pre-defined time period, and, in response: determining, from the set of items, an event underlying the active keyword, the event determined from items that are relevant to the event and referencing the event; determining a time period during which the event occurred; determining times at which each of the items were distributed by the one or more social networking services; assigning, to a first sub-set of items, each item that is determined to: (i) be responsive to the active keyword, (ii) be relevant to the event and referencing the event, and (iii) have been distributed using the one or more social networks at a time within the time period during which the event occurred; assigning to a second sub-set of items, items that are different than items assigned to the first sub-set of items, and that are determined to: (i) be responsive to the active keyword and (ii) have been distributed using the one or more social networks at a time not within the time period during which the event occurred; providing items in the first sub-set of items for display within a set of search results responsive to the search query as social search results in a discussion stream within the set of search results; and providing items in the second sub-set of items for display within the set of search results as social search results outside of the discussion stream within the set of search results. 7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a content sharing interface within the discussion stream, the content sharing interface enabling a searching user to contribute items of digital content to the discussion stream.