In a bold bid to keep users glued to their screens, PrizePicks has rolled out a brand-new social feature inside its daily fantasy sports (DFS) app called The Feed. Rather than just offering pre-set templates or algorithmic lineups, the platform now allows users to follow other players, see their picks in real time, and even copy them with a single tap.
Social First, Fantasy Second
PrizePicks isn’t alone in making social features a core part of its product — gaming apps across sectors are leaning into community and connection as powerful retention tools. The thinking is simple: people stay longer when they feel part of something, when they see what friends or influencers are doing, and when they can engage with—rather than just consume—content.
PrizePicks SVP of Product Dylan Cooper explained that internal research shows younger users (especially those aged roughly 20 to 35) don’t just want to pick from curated lineups. They crave connection: to follow someone whose plays they trust, or see what’s trending in their social circle. In their words, “We thought it’d be more valuable to let the community create everything.”
How The Feed Works — The Nuts and Bolts
Profiles & Followers: Users set up their own profiles, gain followers, and follow others. Once someone is followed, all of their submitted lineups appear in your Feed instantly.
Copy, Remix, React: See a lineup you like? Tap “copy” to import it into your own builder, or remix it with your adjustments. You can also give thumbs up or down to others’ picks.
Shareability: Lineups and profiles are shareable outside the app, letting users show off their picks or pull in new followers.
Real-Time Updates: The Feed is live — as soon as someone places a lineup, others see it.
During a demo, Cooper brought up “BookItWithTrent,” an influencer whose recent lineup had already been copied tens of thousands of times. He showed how easy it was to scroll, copy, and submit his picks — instantly.
Importantly, the original bet amounts are not disclosed to users copying a lineup — they simply adopt the play.
Why This Matters (and What Could Go Wrong)
Upside:
- FOMO & Virality: People might feel pressure to “keep up” with high-performing bettors. Seeing a feed of hot lineups could fuel engagement.
- Network Effects: Influencers, sharers, and active users become content creators, making the app itself more of a social hub than just a betting interface.
- Lower Friction: New users don’t have to be experts — they can follow smarter players until they learn the ropes.
Risks & Challenges:
- Herding Behavior: If everyone copies the same few popular lineups, diversity of plays shrinks, and market inefficiencies could arise.
- Trust & Transparency: If followers don’t know how much someone wagered, or how consistently they win, it could lead to misunderstandings or disappointment.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: Social features in gambling-like contexts attract oversight — ensuring responsible gaming features will be critical.
- Echo Chambers: Users may get stuck in bubble feeds, never seeing different approaches or strategies.
The Bigger Trend: Social Gaming Is the New Frontier
PrizePicks is clearly not reinventing the wheel — other gaming and betting platforms have been pivoting toward social mechanics for months. But embedding social sharing inside a DFS app lowers the barrier to participation. You don’t need to leave the app to argue with friends or share lineups on outside platforms — the community is right there in your face.
This pivot also underscores a shift in product philosophy: the value of the app is no longer just in what it offers you, but in what others are doing, and what you can do together.
