Systems and methods for triggering user notifications of media content items. An example method may comprise: identifying a user of a content sharing platform; determining that a plurality of media content items has a value of a user interest metric exceeding a defined threshold value, wherein the plurality of media content items is represented by a list of media content items compiled based on a pre-defined criterion, and wherein the user interest metric reflects interest of the user to the plurality of media content items; selecting, among the plurality of media content items, a media content item that has not been accessed by the user; and notifying the user of the media content item.