The various embodiments described herein include methods and systems for presenting interactive media items. In one aspect, a method includes publishing, by a server system, an interactive media item, the publishing comprising providing access for a playback of the interactive media item based on metadata for the interactive media item. The metadata is generated using information associated with the interactive media item and including a mapping of an effect parameter for a first effect of the one or more effects to a touch input gesture. Playback includes, in response to detecting a first user input gesture corresponding to the touch input gesture, applying the first effect to the presented interactive media item. The applying of the first effect includes determining the effect parameter according to one or more characteristics of the first user input gesture, based on the mapping of the effect parameter to the touch input gesture.