Sensitive Topic Chatbot
Use structured conversation to make sensitive topics easier to navigate.
In practice: Flo
A sensitive-topic chatbot replaces the blank input with a guided flow. Users pick a topic, choose from real scenarios, and can always tap 'I'm not sure', so exploring an intimate subject feels safe and low-effort.
Topics before typing
A 'Start a new chat' menu branches topics like cramps, headaches, acne, and mental health into guided openers, so users pick a subject instead of composing a delicate question from scratch.
No blank input
The assistant opens with no free-form field, only tappable options, so beginning the conversation takes a tap rather than the courage to type.
Preview, then depth
Answers arrive as short summaries with a 'Read more' expand, letting users decide how deep to go instead of facing a wall of text.
Authority and boundaries
Chats credit a collaborating MD and psychologist with a clear 'not a substitute for medical advice' disclaimer, keeping credibility and limits visible.
Permission to be unsure
Multiple-choice steps always include an 'I'm not sure / None of the above' option, removing the stress of forced choice and producing better data than a guess.
A friend-like register
Warm, informal language and emojis like 'I feel you' soften a sensitive exchange while cited sources keep it trustworthy.
Why it works
A private, contained interface makes exploring intimate questions feel safer than asking a person or searching publicly. Structured choices remove the effort and exposure of free-form typing, and permission to be unsure keeps the conversation honest.
Behavioral principles
Reduced Stigma
A private, contained interface makes intimate questions feel safer than asking a person or searching publicly.
Choice Over Composition
Selecting from real scenarios removes the effort and exposure of writing a delicate question.
Permission to Be Unsure
An 'I'm not sure' option removes forced-choice stress, and honest uncertainty produces better data.
Progressive Disclosure
Short summaries that expand on demand let users control how deep they go.
Design considerations
When a conversation implies urgent, legal, or safety risk, route users to appropriate human or professional support. Sensitive conversation data, especially in reproductive health, needs clear privacy controls and retention expectations.
Implementation prompt
Use the pattern above as the reference, then prototype the same behavior in your own product surface.
I want to incorporate the Sensitive Topic Chatbot approach, inspired by Flo, into my product. The goal is to translate the behavior design principle into a real product flow, not just a standalone UI component. Please suggest how to implement this in the product: • Explain where this pattern should appear in the user journey • Define the behavior it should encourage • Suggest the data, states, and product logic needed to support it • Include user-facing copy that feels calm, respectful, and appropriate for the product context • Identify risks, edge cases, and ways to avoid pressure or manipulation For implementation, propose: • Product flow changes • Required screens or states • Interaction logic • Success and failure states • A lightweight rollout plan for testing whether the pattern improves engagement.