Social Network Message Flow Control via Entity Follow Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Social networks lack effective mechanisms to manage the flow of messages between users and non-person entities, leading to unwanted communications and a lack of control for users over their message streams.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows users to explicitly follow or endorse entity accounts, enabling them to manage message flows by adding entities to communication groups, searching for entities, and controlling responses to posts, while disabling unwanted messages from entities unless explicitly followed or endorsed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If entity accounts are allowed to send messages to person accounts freely, then businesses can communicate with customers effectively, but users receive unwanted communications and lose control over their message streams
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires person accounts to perform a preliminary action (explicitly following or endorsing an entity account) before messages from that entity can be delivered to the person's message stream. This pre-authorization mechanism ensures that only wanted communications reach users, eliminating unwanted messages while preserving communication efficiency for authorized entities.
2Ease of operation
If users are given explicit control over which entities they follow, then they can manage message flows effectively, but the system complexity increases due to additional election and endorsement operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal follow operation that serves multiple functions: it establishes message delivery rights, adds the entity to the person's network, and enables the person to add the entity to communication groups. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate operations needed while providing comprehensive control over message flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments entity access into different levels: followed entities (basic message receipt), endorsed entities (enhanced visibility and communication rights), and communication group members ( targeted message distribution). This segmentation allows users to manage different types of entity relationships separately, providing granular control without overwhelming complexity.
3Productivity
If entity accounts can search for and add person accounts to their communication groups, then entities can reach more customers, but person accounts lose privacy control and receive unsolicited messages
Solution Approach 1:
The system inverts the traditional search-and-add model by preventing entity accounts from searching for or adding person accounts directly. Instead, person accounts actively follow or endorse entities they wish to receive messages from, and entities can only respond to posts where they are explicitly mentioned. This inversion preserves privacy while allowing customer reach through opt-in mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If messages from entities are blocked unless explicitly followed, then user privacy is protected, but legitimate business communications may be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables businesses to reach customers through self-service mechanisms where customers actively express interest by following or endorsing entity accounts. Legitimate business communications are facilitated through this opt-in approach, while privacy is protected by blocking unsolicited messages. The system serves both privacy protection and business communication needs through user-initiated connections.
Data Source
AI summary
Technology for managing the flow of messages among accounts of a social network. One method enables a first account (e.g., person or entity account) to elect a second account (e.g., person or entity account) in the social network. The election causes the first account to follow the second account to receive electronic messages of the second account. Further, an election of the first account by the second account is disabled until the first account follows the second account. Additionally, the method includes an operation for detecting the first account has followed the second account and has added the second account to a communication group managed by the first account.