1. A method comprising the steps of: sending, from a first client, a user discovery request to a socially-aware data storage system, the user discovery request comprising a social score computed for the first client, wherein the social score is computed for the first client based on a social profile of the first client and the social score comprises one or more measures computed for one or more attributes specified in the social profile of the first client; and receiving, at the first client from the socially-aware data storage system, a list of other clients associated with the socially-aware data storage system, the list of other clients being based on the social score computed for the first client, wherein the list of other clients received by the first client contains one or more other clients of the socially-aware data storage system having respective discoverability profiles that are substantially consistent with the social profile of the first client, and a given discoverability profile of a given client characterizes a type of other client of the socially-aware data storage system for which the given client authorizes discovery; wherein one or more data objects associated with the first client are stored in near physical proximity within the socially-aware data storage system to one or more data objects associated with one or more other clients of the socially-aware data storage system when the social score of the first client is substantially similar with social scores of the one or more other clients; wherein the above steps are performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory.