Why are Netflix recently watched shows not appearing for 40% of users?

Introduction

The recent issue of Netflix recently watched shows not appearing for 40% of users is a critical problem that directly impacts user experience and engagement. As we analyze this product issue, we'll follow a systematic framework to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both immediate and long-term implications.

To tackle this problem, I'll start by asking clarifying questions to gather more context. Then, we'll rule out basic external factors, understand the product and user journey, break down the metric, gather and prioritize data, form hypotheses, conduct root cause analysis, validate our findings, and finally propose a resolution plan.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the user segmentation, I'm wondering if this issue is affecting specific user groups. Are we seeing any patterns in terms of device types, geographic regions, or account types where this problem is more prevalent?

Why it matters: This helps us narrow down potential technical or localized issues. Expected answer: The problem seems to be distributed across various user segments. Impact on approach: If it's localized, we'd focus on region-specific infrastructure or content delivery networks.

• Considering recent changes, have there been any updates to the recommendation algorithm or the "recently watched" feature in the past week or two?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with sudden performance shifts. Expected answer: A minor update to the recommendation system was deployed last week. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize investigating the impact of this recent change.

• Regarding data accuracy, has there been any change in how we track or define "recently watched" shows? Are we confident in the 40% figure?

Why it matters: Ensures we're working with accurate data and a consistent definition. Expected answer: No changes in tracking methods; the 40% figure is from our standard analytics. Impact on approach: Confirms we should focus on actual user experience issues rather than data anomalies.

• Thinking about user behavior, have we seen any significant changes in viewing patterns or content popularity that might explain this shift?

Why it matters: User behavior changes can sometimes manifest as system issues. Expected answer: No major shifts in viewing patterns have been observed. Impact on approach: This would lead us to focus more on technical issues rather than content-related factors.