What's causing the sudden 30% decrease in video uploads to the anime category on Bilibili?

Introduction

The sudden 30% decrease in video uploads to the anime category on Bilibili is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. This analysis will systematically identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term and long-term implications for the platform.

I'll approach this problem by first clarifying the context, then ruling out external factors before diving deep into product understanding, metric breakdown, and hypothesis formation. We'll then conduct a thorough root cause analysis, propose validation methods, and outline a comprehensive resolution plan.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be a recent change. When exactly did you first notice this 30% decrease?

Why it matters: Pinpointing the timeframe helps isolate potential causes. Expected answer: Within the last week or month. Impact on approach: A sudden drop suggests a specific trigger, while a gradual decline might indicate a broader trend.

• Considering user segments, I'm wondering if this affects all anime uploaders equally. Have you noticed any patterns in terms of which users are uploading less?

Why it matters: Identifies whether the issue is universal or specific to certain user groups. Expected answer: It's affecting a specific subset of users more than others. Impact on approach: If it's user-specific, we'd focus on those segments; if universal, we'd look at platform-wide issues.

• Given the specificity to the anime category, I'm curious about other content categories. Has there been any change in upload rates for other video categories?

Why it matters: Helps determine if this is an anime-specific issue or a broader platform problem. Expected answer: Other categories are stable or showing different patterns. Impact on approach: If anime-specific, we'd investigate category-related factors; if widespread, we'd look at platform-wide changes.

• Thinking about recent changes, I'm wondering about any updates to the upload process or content policies. Have there been any recent modifications to how users upload anime content?

Why it matters: Recent changes could directly impact user behavior. Expected answer: Some minor updates were made to the content policy last month. Impact on approach: If changes occurred, we'd investigate their direct impact on anime uploads.