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MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
Hijack users are those who use your product in ways that you did not intend, and they can detract from the overall value of your service.
Video
YC
Users You Don't Want by Michael Seibel
@ Y Combinator
11/29/18
Related Takeaways
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
Hijack users may not have bad intentions; they simply want to use your product for their own purposes, which can ultimately hurt your business. If a user generates enough revenue to justify the customer support time, they can be considered valuable; otherwise, they may not be worth the effort, especially if they don't contribute to learning or product improvement.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
Hijack users, like those who misuse platforms for illegal activities, can be detrimental to a business despite potentially generating revenue; their negative impact often outweighs any positives they bring.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
There are users who create no long-term value and may even harm your network; these hijack users should be identified and removed from your platform.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
When startups begin, they often try to attract every user possible, but this can lead to unwanted users who hijack the product for unintended purposes.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
Startups often struggle to identify and remove hijack users, focusing instead on users who provide some value, which can be detrimental to their growth.
MS
Michael Seibel
09/06/18
@ Y Combinator
Identify bad customers who exploit your product without providing value; these customers can mislead you and waste your resources.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
It's important to recognize the spectrum of users: some use your product as intended, while others use it in interesting ways that could lead to potential business opportunities.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
Some hijack users can actually lead to valuable insights; for instance, video gamers on Justin.tv prompted the idea for Twitch, which became a significant community.
MS
Michael Seibel
11/29/18
@ Y Combinator
While it's okay to explore unconventional use cases, businesses should not allow disruptive users to influence core product decisions or features.