Trending Posts Algorithm

Requirements Clarification & Assessment

1. Understanding Engagement Metrics

   • Current Engagement Levels: Assess the current level of user engagement on Reddit. This includes metrics such as daily active users, average time spent per session, and the number of interactions per post.
   • Key Metrics for Success: Identify which metrics will be used to measure the success of the trending posts feature. Potential metrics include:
     • Number of users visiting the trending posts page.
     • Average time spent on the trending posts page.
     • Number of comments, upvotes, and shares on trending posts.
     • Overall increase in user engagement across the platform.

2. Criteria for Trending Posts

   • Engagement Metrics: Define which engagement metrics will determine a post's "hot" or "trending" status. This might include:
     • Number of upvotes and comments.
     • Rate of receiving upvotes and comments.
     • Views and shares.
   • Time Decay: Implement a time decay mechanism to ensure that recent posts have more influence on the trending score, while older posts contribute less.

3. User Preferences

   • Personalization: Consider how to match trending posts to individual user preferences, possibly by looking at users' historical engagement data and interests.

4. Scalability

   • System Design: Ensure that the system can scale to accommodate millions of users, providing personalized trending posts efficiently.

5. UI/UX Design

   • Visual Indicators: Design the user interface to clearly indicate the "hotness" or "trending" status of posts using visual cues.