Line charts displayed on a monitor

Journal

When retention curves lie

· Minseo Choi

Aggregate retention is a summary, not a diagnosis. Mixing platforms, acquisition channels, or account types into one curve averages away the story you need.

Before you celebrate stability, split by the cuts that change behavior: first platform used, signup source, and whether the account ever reached the activation moment you defined.

If one segment climbs while another falls, the headline number may stay flat — and you will optimize the wrong thing.