Social networking system and method

A social networking system for facilitating social interaction between a plurality of users, the social networking system comprising:

• one or more computer devices having a computer processor and computer memory, the computer memory storing executable code that, when executed by the computer processor, enables the computer system to perform a process that comprises:
• receiving profile information for each of the plurality of users, the profile information including a name of the user, at least one photograph of the user, and personal information about the user's hobbies and interests;
• storing the profile information in a database;
• tracking a location of each of the plurality of users;
• displaying on a map the location of a current user, and also displaying other users who are physically located proximate the current user;
• displaying an indication of the direction of vision of the current user responsive to the physical movements of the computer device of the user;
• in response to the current user directing his or her direction of vision at one of the other users, marking that user as a target user and displaying the profile of the target user, including the name of the user, the at least one photograph of the user, and the personal information about the user's hobbies and interests;
• sending a chat request from the current user to the target user, the chat request including the profile information of the current user so that the target user can review the profile information of the current user who is making the chat request, to determine if he or she would like to start a chat, and further including an accept/deny function that enables the target user to accept or deny the chat request;
• and
• opening, in an event that the target user accepts the chat request with the current user, a chat session that includes a text box that enables two way text communication between the current user and the target user.