Methods, systems, and devices are described for communications via a mesh network. To join an existing mesh network, a wireless communication device may identify a member device from a plurality of member devices of an existing mesh network. The wireless communication device may communicate with the identified member device to participate in a single authentication procedure. Upon successfully completing the single authentication procedure, the wireless communication device may join the existing mesh network without needing any additional authentication procedures with another member device of the plurality of member devices to join the existing mesh network. This approach may be used for any mesh network, such as a social Wi-Fi mesh network.