Your manager at Meta asks about Instagram Explore: should we show more diverse content with lower relevance or focused content with higher engagement?

Introduction

The Instagram Explore trade-off between diverse content with lower relevance and focused content with higher engagement presents a critical decision point for Meta's product strategy. This scenario touches on the core of Instagram's content discovery mechanism, balancing user engagement with content diversity. I'll analyze this trade-off through multiple lenses, considering user experience, business impact, and technical feasibility.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming this is a current issue for Instagram Explore. Is this correct, or are we considering a potential future change?

Why it matters: Helps frame the urgency and existing data available Expected answer: Current issue being debated Impact: If future, we'd need more hypothetical analysis; if current, we can leverage existing data

• Business Context: Given Instagram's ad-based revenue model, how does Explore currently contribute to our monetization strategy?

Why it matters: Aligns solution with revenue goals Expected answer: Significant revenue driver through ad placements Impact: Higher revenue contribution would prioritize engagement; lower might allow more experimentation

• User Impact: Can you share any data on user segments most affected by Explore's current algorithm?

Why it matters: Identifies key user groups to consider Expected answer: Younger users and content creators heavily impacted Impact: Would tailor solution to prioritize these segments' needs

• Technical: What's our current capability to personalize diverse content recommendations?

Why it matters: Determines feasibility of balancing diversity and relevance Expected answer: Some capability, but room for improvement Impact: Limited capability might favor focused content initially

• Timeline: Is there a specific timeframe we're working within for this decision?

Why it matters: Influences depth of analysis and implementation speed Expected answer: Decision needed within next quarter Impact: Shorter timeline might favor incremental changes; longer allows for more comprehensive solutions