Interacting between users of mobile devices is provided by initiating a desired interaction at a first user device using a gesture sensed by the first user device, determining a gesture area, submitting a desired interaction request for interaction with associated users within the gesture area, and sending a notification to user devices indicating the desired interaction of the first user with one or more users of a local subset, wherein the notification identifies the first user with an identifier independent of identifiers used by the first user outside of interactions with a remote server.