Google PM Interview: Facebook Messaging Strategy

most useless answer

One more imprtant aspect to consider would have been why user come to these apps and what are the prerequisites? While Facebook and Instagram do not have any prerequsite, whatsapp does require phone number to be able to connect with peers. So the use cases of whatsapp, messenger and Insta chat are totally on different tangents. Also one more thing that could have been said in the security and privacy aspect is to be able to send out messages to people even if they are not on your followers like creators and Influencers, but on whatsapp that's not the same. Considering all other aspects that the interiewee has listed, I would conclude saying Insta and facebook chats consolidation could be explored even further to get enough data points , but not whatsapp.

Just wondering how this type of scenario is coming to your mind? just because Whatsapp and Facebook are the most popular? can you imagine how many other use cases can be just to not choose something that is ridiculously popular but does not bring any new value at all?

Great framework! Although looked more like a PM thinking about the opportunity and not a strategy person. I would also talk about the impact on people, partners and competition because of this consolidation. The human element of such consolidations can be devastating if not handled well.

Thanks a lot. This helps. I love your thought process and approach. Please, Kelvin, keep ‘em coming. 💯💯

May be comparing user segments (GenZ,Millenials, Business Users) that each app will be dealing with could have been a decision factor as well. Great framework though !!!

Why we use each of these apps is super important to consider.

If I chat with the same friends on Instagram and WhatsApp, the key difference is what I talk about. So I would start with “what Instagram is, what WhatsApp is, why we communicate on either or both and who the main user groups are.

For example - On WhatsApp, it’s more of a conversation like in iMessage and regular communication. And the user base is different too - more “groups of friends who are in your contacts”

For example - On Instagram, it’s more likely that you have conversations with acquaintances or influencers who follow you or vice versa (who’s contacts you may not already have). A lot of conversations are also based on sharing or reacting to memes and videos, so the “why” is different too.

I would start with pros and cons of each messaging platforms and then consider potential for consolidating all or some of them.

Great discussion! I would also add one more point in favor of keeping them separate - Instagram, WhatsApp and FB Messengers are all habit forming products. There is a group of people who only use WhatsApp for communication and are not familiarized with Instagram UI and vice versa. If we consolidate all three together then these different groups of people (who are accustomed to using one specific app for communication) will have to break their habit of using one app to using the new consolidated one, which is a huge behavioral shift. We will be at the risk of losing customers.

The maim concern will be login factor as different apps have different login authentication as in whatsapp uses only number ,insta user are searched by username ......correct me if m wrong....
Db structure will be changed alot ..

Fuck FB

Revenue- whatsapp monetizes by whatsapp for businesses where companies can advertise or share info with their users

This is done very nicely, weighing in Pros and cons. This is very non engineer discussion tho' and one thing I wanted add is how urgent is this, but he did cover this at the end.