Pinterest: The Field Guide to Non-Engagement Signals

Non-Engagement Signals are data points used by platforms like Pinterest to balance the influence of user engagement signals in content ranking. They are derived from two main sources:

1. In-app surveys: Users directly provide feedback about the platform.
2. Independent assessments of content quality: This usually involves manual labeling of content quality by experts.

These signals help to prevent the promotion of low-quality or harmful content that might otherwise be surfaced due to high engagement alone.

The 'Field Guide to Non-Engagement Signals' is important for companies because it offers best practices for using Non-Engagement Signals in content ranking. This guide helps companies to:

• Protect users from low-quality or harmful content.
• Align content ranking with their values, such as Pinterest's inclusive product work.
• Improve long-term user retention by balancing engagement signals with content quality.

By adopting Non-Engagement Signals, companies can contribute to building a more inspired and healthier Internet.

Generative AI (GenAI) can help scale content quality signals by providing a cost-effective and faster alternative to manual labeling. It can enable more comprehensive content monitoring. However, the application of GenAI must be done thoughtfully, ensuring human judgment and values remain integral to content moderation decisions. The potential benefits of using GenAI include:

• Identifying engaging yet low-quality content.
• Improving long-term user retention when integrated into content ranking.

The Field Guide has several actionable applications for product decisions, including:

1. Tuning for Emotional Well-Being: Guiding platforms on promoting content that supports user well-being while avoiding broad optimization for general well-being.

2. Scaling Content Quality Signals with Generative AI: Offering insights on how to use GenAI to scale the manual effort of labeling content quality.

3. Improving User Retention: Providing evidence that both engagement and Non-Engagement Signals can benefit long-term user retention, and suggesting platforms to explore these signals further.

Content-ranking platforms can use the Field Guide to Non-Engagement Signals by:

• Reviewing the guide's propositions to inform their content ranking strategies.
• Comparing the guide's insights with their internal analyses and using it to fill gaps where they lack robust data.
• Applying the guide's actionable advice to tune for emotional well-being, scale content quality signals, and improve user retention.

The guide is intended as a reference to help platforms make informed decisions, not as a prescriptive set of rules.