Metrics question
Facebook wants to split its newsfeed into two. What metrics would you look at to validate this decision?
- Meta
- Metrics
- Hard
Practice this question out loud. An AI interviewer asks it, follows up like a real interviewer would, and scores your answer. Type or speak.
Start a mock interview on this question · Mock interview from a job description
What this question tests
Metrics for a major structural product change: can you define what data would validate splitting a core surface, weighing user and business impact together.
How to approach it
- Clarify the hypothesis behind the split: likely separating algorithmic/recommended content from friends-and-family posts, so define what problem it's meant to solve.
- Metric 1: engagement quality per feed, comparing time spent and interaction rate on the friends-feed versus the algorithmic-feed to see if each serves its purpose.
- Metric 2: overall platform time spent and session frequency, to check the split doesn't just fragment attention and reduce total engagement.
- Metric 3: user sentiment/satisfaction survey data, since a structural change like this affects perceived experience beyond raw engagement numbers.
- Metric 4: content creator/publisher impact, since algorithmic reach changes affect the publisher ecosystem that produces platform content.
- Propose validating via a phased test (small percentage rollout) measuring all of the above before a full launch decision.
What a strong answer includes
- Ties metrics back to the actual hypothesis behind the split instead of listing generic engagement numbers.
- Explicitly checks for fragmentation risk, total engagement dropping even if each sub-feed looks healthy individually.
- Includes creator/publisher-side impact, recognizing a feed split affects more than just the consumer experience.
- Proposes a phased rollout with pre-defined metrics rather than a full launch decided on gut feel.
Common mistakes
- Only measuring the new algorithmic feed's performance without checking impact on total platform engagement.
- Ignoring the publisher/creator side effects of separating algorithmic reach from the main feed.
Likely follow-up questions
- What would make you decide not to proceed with the split, even if initial numbers look decent?
- How would you communicate this change to publishers who depend on feed reach?
More metrics questions
- How would you measure the success of Facebook Likes?Meta · Metrics · Medium
- How would you measure improvements made to Facebook messenger?Meta · Metrics · Easy
- Imagine you are the PM in charge of Reactions on Facebook - the new way to interact with posts by using “love”, “haha”, “wow”, “sad”, and “angry” reactions. What would success look like in terms of number of non-like reactions per post at launch and how do you come up with this? Would this number differ by reaction? Why or why not?Meta · Metrics · Hard
- You launched a new signup flow to encourage new users to add more profile information. A/B test results indicate that the % of people that added more information increased by 8%. However, 7 day retention decreased by 2%. What do you do?Google · Metrics · Hard
- Define the metrics for YouTube search.Google · Metrics · Medium
- You are the PM of Instagram app. The MAU has been constant but DAU has declined. What will you do?Meta · Metrics · Medium
More questions from Meta
Learn the skill behind it
Chapters of the AI PM course that teach what this question tests.
- Chapter 9: Prove it paid off: outcomes, economics, and pricing
- Chapter 2: Data fluency: SQL, logs, and reading the truth yourself
- Chapter 14: Get the job: the AI PM interview loop