A method comprising: accessing user representation data for a user of a social media platform, the user representation data indicating: location information indicating a geographic location of a specific client device associated with the user; a user icon configured to provide a visual representation of the user; an d a status indicator configured to provide a visual indication of a current status associated with the user, the status indicator having an associated direct action triggerable by selection of a combined icon of which it forms part, wherein the status indicator is selected from a plurality of different status indicators having different associated direct actions; accessing map data associated with the geographic location indicated by the location information; in an automated operation based at least in part on the map data and performed using one or more computer processor devices configured therefor, causing generation of a map-based graphical user interface, GUI, for the social media platform, the map-based GUI comprising an interactive map that includes the indicated geographic location; causing display on the interactive map of the combined icon visually representing the user at a display location based on the indicated geographic location, the combined icon comprising the user icon and the status indicator; and responsive to user selection of the combined icon, automatically initiating the direct action associated with the status indicator. accessing user representation data for a user of a social media platform, the user representation data indicating: location information indicating a geographic location of a specific client device associated with the user; a user icon configured to provide a visual representation of the user; an d a status indicator configured to provide a visual indication of a current status associated with the user, the status indicator having an associated direct action triggerable by selection of a combined icon of which it forms part, wherein the status indicator is selected from a plurality of different status indicators having different associated direct actions; location information indicating a geographic location of a specific client device associated with the user; a user icon configured to provide a visual representation of the user; an d a status indicator configured to provide a visual indication of a current status associated with the user, the status indicator having an associated direct action triggerable by selection of a combined icon of which it forms part, wherein the status indicator is selected from a plurality of different status indicators having different associated direct actions; accessing map data associated with the geographic location indicated by the location information; in an automated operation based at least in part on the map data and performed using one or more computer processor devices configured therefor, causing generation of a map-based graphical user interface, GUI, for the social media platform, the map-based GUI comprising an interactive map that includes the indicated geographic location; causing display on the interactive map of the combined icon visually representing the user at a display location based on the indicated geographic location, the combined icon comprising the user icon and the status indicator; and responsive to user selection of the combined icon, automatically initiating the direct action associated with the status indicator.