You are the PM for Facebook newsfeed. How would you decide between showing events or videos?

Introduction

The trade-off between showing events or videos in Facebook's newsfeed is a critical decision that impacts user engagement, content diversity, and overall platform value. This scenario involves balancing different content types to optimize the newsfeed experience. I'll approach this by analyzing user needs, business goals, and technical considerations to determine the best strategy for content prioritization.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• What are the current ratios of events vs. videos in the newsfeed?

• Why: Establishes baseline for comparison
• Hypothetical answer: 30% events, 70% videos
• Impact: Informs whether we're considering a major shift or fine-tuning

• How do engagement metrics differ between events and videos?

• Why: Identifies user preferences and behavior
• Hypothetical answer: Videos have higher watch time, events have more interactions
• Impact: Guides focus on specific engagement goals

• What's the revenue model for events vs. videos?

• Why: Aligns decision with business objectives
• Hypothetical answer: Videos generate more ad revenue, events drive community engagement
• Impact: Balances short-term revenue with long-term platform health

• Are there any upcoming product launches or strategic initiatives related to either content type?

• Why: Ensures alignment with broader company goals
• Hypothetical answer: New event discovery features planned for next quarter
• Impact: May influence prioritization of events to support upcoming features

• What technical constraints exist for serving different content types?

• Why: Identifies potential implementation challenges
• Hypothetical answer: Video content requires more bandwidth and storage
• Impact: Informs feasibility and scalability of different approaches