Design Framework for Private Messaging Across Facebook
The Facebook app needs a messaging layer to feel vibrant and meaningful. Discovery of content feels isolating when sharing and conservation can’t easily happen with the right people. Sharing induces anxiety when broadcasting yourself is the only way to do it. Connection feels stale when my close friends don’t feel present in the app and their activity is limited to low-frequency formats like Stories and posts.
Hypothesis
I believe that developing atomic level private messaging for Young Adults will increase content consumption. We will know this is true when we see private messaging across surfaces has increased usage.
User/Business Problem: Workshop
Feedback suggests that young adults find current group messaging features lacking in flexibility and customization. Upgrades to allow for more personalized group chats, including customizable interfaces and enhanced notification settings, could significantly improve user satisfaction.
With the rising popularity of short, ephemeral content among young adults, adapting private messaging to facilitate and encourage more concise, expressive forms of communication—such as voice snippets or short videos—could enhance user experience.
Design Sprint: Solution Ideas
As a result of doing discovery across the app and what features were performing the best for retention, I created a new set of features that helped uplift the messaging experience across key surfaces.
Implement features that help users build and maintain social connections more effectively, such as “memory sharing” for recalling past conversations or shared content, and “group watch” functionalities for enjoying videos together in real-time.
Create a content discovery engine within messaging that suggests articles, videos, and events based on the users’ interests and conversation contexts. This could include partnerships with content creators and platforms to ensure a steady stream of relevant and engaging content.
Full Experience
Here is a preview of the messaging system tied to together and working across key surfaces.
Quick Send Tray
With Quick Send Tray my connections follow me as I experience the app. Sharing is quick, easy and safe.
Chat Overlay
Keep the conversation going by allowing discussion, consumption and new content discovery to co-exist on a single surface.
Visual Inbox
By integrating privately shared content into the Stories experience, we meet people where they are.
Content Keyboard
Easy access to relevant content inside the chat to make the conversation more meaningful and fun. Shared memories help form bonds; unconnected content inspires discussion or joint discovery.
Product Design
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