Vidio's User Blocker
Project Overview
The User Blocker Project aims to improve Vidio's user experience by implementing a new user blocking feature in compliance with Google PlayStore regulations. This dedicated feature will allow users to block negative comments or content from both regular users and content partners.
Project Details
My Role
Product Designer Intern
Team
- Eggy Gouztam (Product Design Lead)
Timeline
n/a
Tools
Figma
Objectives
- Improve the user experience by adding a user blocking feature that helps users feel more comfortable with blocking negative comments or content from regular users or content partners
- Comply with the new policy of Google PlayStore to allow users block other users
Challenges
Questions to be answered:
- How do users block fellow users' accounts who repeatedly show negative comments?
- How do users block a content partner which shows unrelated or negative content?
- What are the consequences of being blocked (for regular users and content partners)?
- How do we show the users about the warning and consequences?
Benchmarking
We have conducted a benchmarking study on several social media, namely Instagram, TikTok, YouTube (as a fellow OTT platform), and our current Live Chat Blocker. Different platforms have different policies and the severity of the consequences; and we may classify the blocker as follows:
1. Blocker User's Point of View
Level 1: Prevent Comment
Youtube
Action: User click on the channel / user profile page → about section → block
- Note: after blocking a channel, the subscription status does not change; it will only prevent them commenting on your content
- The blocked user still can search for the blocker
- Behavior: between users or user with channels
Vidio Live Chat Blocker
Action: Click three dots on comment → report
- Reported messages will be automatically deleted from chat of user who reported
- If user is reported >=5 times, user will be muted
Level 2: Prevent Seeing Content and Sending Message
Action: User click on other user’s profile page -> block (block a certain user or potential accounts they make)
- Note: after being blocked, the blocked user cannot see any content and send any message
- There is another alternative: restriction. Restricting a user on Instagram is similar to blocking them—but a little more polite. the restrict feature simply hides their comments and messages from you while still allowing them to view your posts. Blocking a user hides your entire feed and stories from them.
Level 3: Prevent Seeing Profile
TikTok
Action: User click on the channel / user profile page → about section → block
- Note: after blocking a channel, the subscription status does not change; it will only prevent them commenting on your content
- The blocked user still can search for the blocker
- Behavior: between users or user with channels
2. Blocked User's Point of View
Level 1: Prevent Comment
Youtube
Users:
- Blocked users cannot reply or comment or any of the content (the users who block them). Their previous comments will also be hidden. However, they can still subscribe and view the contents.
System wise:
- Channel: A YouTube channel is terminated if it accrues three Community Guidelines strikes in 90 days, has a single case of severe abuse (such as predatory behavior), or is determined to be wholly dedicated to violating our guidelines (as is often the case with spam accounts).
- Contents: Flags from human detection can come from a user or a member of YouTube’s Trusted Flagger program. Trusted Flagger program members include NGOs and government agencies that are particularly effective at notifying YouTube of content that violates our Community Guidelines.
Vidio Live Chat Blocker
Users:
- If only a user reports, the comment will be deleted only on the reporter side
System wise:
- Reported users can only be muted to comment in a live chat if at least 5 people reported them. They can still comment on VOD.
There isn’t logic for negative comment on VOD contents yet
Level 2: Prevent Seeing Content and Sending Message
Users:
- Blocked users will not be able to view any content and message the user who blocked them.
System wise:
- Each account, device, session and IP address on Instagram is assigned an internal trust score which changes over time with the actions taken by the account.
Multiple effects can be impacted:
- Account deactivation (permanent ban) -> Happens if your account gets reported for violating Instagram Terms of Services by others
- Account Action Block -> If the users are getting action blocked repeatedly, the users won’t be able to like, follow, leave comments or send DMs for a certain period of time from any session for that account.
Level 3: Prevent Seeing Profile
Tiktok
Users:
- Blocked users cannot find (search) the blocker profile and direct messages vanish.
- However, extended interaction may still accepted (sharing groups, multi host livestreams, etc)
Solutions
Based on the above evidence, we will proceed with the level 1 and level 2 but adopted OTT platform.
If a user is getting blocked at least 5 times, s/he will not be able to comment in any comment [this is a different policy with what we have before, where if a user’s comment is blocked in live chat they can still comment in VOD or non Live Streaming content]. In terms of level 2, both the blocker and blocked users will not be able to see each other's content and comments
Blocker User Flow & Design Proposal:
- Regular User: Simplifying the User Interface (UI) with a kebab menu button for easy access to blocking. Following/followers and username search remain as ways to find users for blocking.
- Content Partner: Retaining the previous flow with minor adjustments for user profile page accessibility.
Blocked User Flow & Design Proposal:
- Issuing warnings to blocked users when a certain number of users have blocked them, ensuring awareness of their actions.
- Implementing notifications for further violations, restricting regular users from posting comments and content partners from posting content as a consequence of continuous policy violations?
1. Blocker User's Point of View
Regular User
Regular user can only be found from a content partner’s following/followers; or if they know
the username of the user they want to block and search vidio.com/@username.
However, rather than just adding another button aside from the “Bagikan” or sharing button;
we have come to simplify the User Interface (UI) by making a more (kebab menu) button. This
behavior can be found in other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok as our
benchmarking. Making this design alternative accessible since it will always show in any
section of the user's profile.
We also do not decide to go with YouTube flow where the block button is under the About
Section, because it will be too much of a hassle if our user wants to block.
Content Partner
Similar as before, the difference is only at how we can manage to find the content partner user profile page.
2. Blocked User's Point of View
They will be warned if a certain number of users have blocked them; if they proceed to do more violations against the policy they will get a notification that their account will be limited to some features. In this case, the regular user will be unable to post comments whereas content partners are unable to post content.
(a) Desktop View
(b) Mobile View
Credits
- Eggy Gouztam, Product Designer Lead
- Metta Anantha, Product Designer
- Sonia Vinithadas, Sr. UX Researcher
- Hasna Nadifah, UX Researcher Intern
Disclaimer
There are concerns raised since Vidio is not a UGC (User-Generated Content) platforms, thus it does not require the blocking feature. The final decision is made by the product design leads.