Why has the average watch time per user on Kuaishou's recommended video feed declined by 20% this month?

Introduction

The recent 20% decline in average watch time per user on Kuaishou's recommended video feed is a significant issue that requires immediate attention. This analysis will systematically identify potential root causes, validate hypotheses, and propose solutions to address the problem. We'll examine both internal and external factors, considering technical, user behavior, and product-related aspects.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Has there been any change in the definition or measurement of watch time?

• Are specific user segments more affected than others?

• Have there been any recent product updates or algorithm changes?

• What's the performance of other key metrics during this period?

• Has there been any significant change in content supply or creator activity?

• Are there any seasonal factors that might be influencing user behavior?

These questions help establish a baseline understanding of the situation. For example, knowing if the decline is uniform across user segments could indicate whether it's a systemic issue or limited to specific groups. Similarly, recent product changes might directly correlate with the watch time decrease.

Hypothetical answers could reveal that the decline is more pronounced among younger users, coinciding with a recent algorithm update aimed at diversifying content recommendations. This information would significantly impact our approach, focusing on the algorithm's effectiveness and its alignment with user preferences.