Systems and methods are provided for timing message notifications to be provided to mobile device users based on their geographic locations with respect to geographic areas associated with a threshold level of content consumption. The timing of message notifications may be controlled in order to optimize the chances of delivering targeted content to a mobile device user based on the current geographic location of the user's device relative to a threshold level of content consumption area. As mobile device users may be more likely to launch a client application in a place where other users are currently consuming content, a general message notification sent to the user's device located in a geographic area associated with a threshold level of content consumption, may increase the likelihood that the user will launch the client application and thereby, allow targeted content to be delivered to the user's mobile device.