Moderated Interest Chat Match
Design an opt-in conversation service that pairs adults around a shared topic while making safety controls immediate and understandable.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
Meeting someone new can make online communities feel lively, but random matching also creates risks involving harassment, impersonation, spam, and unwanted contact.
User context
Jon wants a ten-minute conversation with another adult learning street photography. He is open to meeting someone new but does not want to reveal his full name, precise location, or contact details.
Product problem
The experience must create enough context for a useful conversation while preserving boundaries and providing fast exits when a match feels unsafe.
Objective
Design the topic selection, matching, conversation, trust, and optional reconnection flow.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Choose a topic and conversation preferences
- Review safety expectations before matching
- Chat with a new person using a limited profile
- Leave, block, report, or mutually add a trusted connection
Screens and states
- Topic setup
- Matching state
- Active conversation
- Safety actions
- Mutual connection result
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Jon selects street photography and a text-only conversation
- 02
The service finds a compatible participant
- 03
He reviews the limited profile and begins chatting
- 04
Both participants choose whether to remain connected after the session
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Do not expose precise location or contact details by default
- Keep block, report, and leave actions available throughout
- Require mutual approval before persistent messaging is enabled
- Explain how reports are reviewed and what evidence is retained
Constraints
- The service is restricted to verified adults
- Matching may take longer for niche topics
- A person who leaves must not be rematched with the blocked account
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Five to seven mobile states spanning setup, conversation, and safety
- A short rationale for identity, retention, and moderation choices
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Waiting for the Sunrise & Rock Salt
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.
Waiting for the Sunrise & Rock Salt
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.