A location sharing system and related processes across computer networks are provided that efficiently utilize resources by adjusting location determination techniques at client devices. A rule-based architecture including user-based heuristics facilitates location determination that is accurate while optimizing resource consumption. Current interest in or other behavior associated with a target user or requesting user can be used in selecting a location determination protocol at the client device. An accurate portrayal of a user's location can be provided efficiently by correlating interest to utilize more accurate but larger resource-intensive components when interest is higher and to utilize less accurate but lower resource-intensive components when interest is lower.