Methods and systems for automatically interfacing with Internet-based social networks for safely providing friends of a mobile user with location updates. In particular, a system and method are provided for automatically posting user-location information to a social network. A system interface receives user data including a location update activation indicator and location update conditions. A navigation engine obtains information associated with the current location of the mobile user. A social network client module of the system is configured to determine that the location activation indicator is active and to determine that a location update condition is met. A communications interface automatically posts a location update to the social network if the social network client determines that at least one location update condition is met.