Systems and methods for facilitating social communication are disclosed. A system includes a first portable social client including an encoder configured to associate identity information with an optical signal pattern, and an optical signal transmitter configured to broadcast the optical signal pattern in a series of pulses in a non-visible light spectrum, and a second portable social client including an optical signal receiver configured to receive the optical signal pattern in the non-visible light spectrum, and a decoder configured to access the identity information associated with the optical signal pattern.
