As PM for Facebook Dating, would you implement video chat features or focus on improving text-based communication?

Introduction

The trade-off we're considering for Facebook Dating is whether to implement video chat features or focus on improving text-based communication. This decision is crucial for the product's growth and user engagement. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining user needs, technical feasibility, business impact, and potential outcomes.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming Facebook Dating is still in a growth phase. Could you confirm if we're prioritizing user acquisition or retention at this stage?

Why it matters: Helps focus our strategy on either attracting new users or engaging existing ones Expected answer: Balanced focus on both, with slight emphasis on acquisition Impact on approach: Would influence feature prioritization and marketing strategies

• Business Context: Is there a specific revenue model for Facebook Dating, or is it primarily driving engagement for the broader Facebook ecosystem?

Why it matters: Determines if we need to consider direct monetization in our decision Expected answer: Currently focused on engagement, with potential for future monetization Impact on approach: Would affect how we evaluate the ROI of new features

• User Impact: Do we have data on user preferences between video and text communication in dating apps?

Why it matters: Helps understand if there's a clear user demand for video features Expected answer: Mixed preferences, with younger users favoring video Impact on approach: Would guide feature development and targeting strategies

• Technical: What's our current infrastructure's capacity to support video chat at scale?

Why it matters: Determines the feasibility and cost of implementing video features Expected answer: Some capacity, but would require significant investment Impact on approach: Would influence timeline and resource allocation for video implementation

• Timeline: Is there a specific launch window we're targeting for the next major feature update?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize short-term vs. long-term solutions Expected answer: Aiming for a major update in Q4 Impact on approach: Would affect the scope and complexity of features we can realistically implement