Design a New Feature for a Live Streaming Platform

Company Context

StreamLive is a rapidly growing live streaming platform with over 10 million monthly active users. It focuses on user-generated content and live events, competing against established players like Twitch and YouTube Live. StreamLive has successfully built a community around gaming and entertainment but seeks to improve user engagement and retention, particularly during live events.

Problem

User engagement during live events has plateaued, with average viewer retention dropping from 60% to 45% over the past six months. Data indicates that users prefer interactive experiences, but the current platform lacks features that facilitate real-time interaction. A recent survey showed that 70% of users would engage more if there were ways to interact with streamers and other viewers during broadcasts.

Deliverables

1. Propose a new interactive feature that enhances viewer engagement during live streams.
2. Define the user journey for this feature, including how users will discover and use it.
3. Outline the technical requirements and potential challenges in implementing this feature.
4. Identify key success metrics to evaluate the feature's impact on user engagement.
5. Discuss potential trade-offs related to feature complexity and user experience.

Constraints

• The engineering team has limited resources, with only two developers available for this project.
• The feature must be launched within 10 weeks.
• The solution should not significantly increase the platform's operational costs.