Social Proximity
Human-first proximity networking powered by consent, shared interests, and conversational AI.
Status: Early concept / prototype phase
Overview
Social Proximity is a privacy-focused mobile application that helps people naturally discover and connect with others nearby — through mutual consent and shared interests, not algorithms or swiping.
Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the app detects when two users are physically close — at a café, conference, coworking space, airport, or social event — and suggests low-pressure conversation starters based on what they have in common.
The goal is not tracking or dating. It's about reducing social friction and letting meaningful conversations happen organically.
Core Idea
Instead of endless swiping, cold approaches, or awkward introductions, Social Proximity creates a subtle bridge between people already sharing the same physical space.
When proximity and mutual interest align, users might see something like:
"Someone nearby also works with DevOps and enjoys philosophy & hardstyle."
If both users are open to connecting, the app reveals more and suggests natural conversation topics — no pressure, no commitment.
Features
📡 Proximity Detection
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based nearby detection
- Approximate distance awareness (1–3 metres)
- No GPS required
🤝 Mutual Consent
- Both users must explicitly opt in before any information is shared
- No passive tracking or forced visibility
🎯 Shared Interests
Users can optionally share hobbies, professional interests, passions, and topics they enjoy discussing. Only matched interests are surfaced to the other person.
💬 AI Conversation Starters
The app generates natural icebreakers based on shared context, for example:
- "You both work with cloud infrastructure."
- "You both enjoy early hardstyle."
- "Maybe ask about Kubernetes homelabs."
🔒 Privacy First
Designed from the ground up with privacy in mind:
- No live maps or exact locations
- No movement tracking or location history
- Ephemeral identifiers
- Minimal data retention
Use Cases
Social Proximity fits naturally wherever people gather:
- Conferences and networking events
- Coworking spaces and university campuses
- Cafés and airports
- Social discovery for introverts
- Professional networking without the business card awkwardness
Vision
Technology should help humans connect more naturally — not isolate them further.
Social Proximity aims to create small moments of serendipity in everyday life: the kind that used to happen by chance, now made possible through respectful, consent-driven social discovery.
Guiding Principles
| Principle | What it means |
|---|---|
| Human-first | The app should feel calm, respectful, and natural |
| Consent-first | No interaction happens without mutual participation |
| Privacy-first | Users should never feel monitored or exposed |
| Minimalism | No noisy notifications or addictive mechanics |
Technical Direction
Mobile
- React Native or Flutter
- Native BLE integration
Backend
- FastAPI + WebSockets
- Redis + PostgreSQL
Infrastructure
- Docker · Kubernetes · Azure / cloud-native
Future Ideas
- Event mode — optimised for conferences and meetups
- Café mode — relaxed, low-key discovery
- Temporary "open to talk" sessions — time-boxed availability
- AI-generated introductions — personalised openers beyond icebreakers
- Shared mood / interests — richer contextual matching
- UWB support — more accurate proximity sensing
License
MIT License
Created by Henrik