Method for generating media content items based on location information starts with the server system receiving from a first computing device an electronic communication including location information from a location sensor coupled to the first client computing device. Server system then determines a current activity of a first user of the first client computing device based on the location information; generating a media content item including a map display based on the location information and at least one of: (i) an avatar of the first user engaged in the current activity, (ii) a status message associated with the current activity of the first user, or (iii) a status message associated with a map location on the map display. Server system then causes the media content item to be displayed on a display screen of at least one of a plurality of client computing devices. Other embodiments are described herein.