In an effort to present a unique experience to viewers, the W Network is launching #RippleEffect, an interactive reality drama where viewers can interact directly with the women whose lives the project features.

“What distinguishes this program from others is that it’s designed to influence the lives of the principals by their interaction with the population at large,” said John MacDonald, VP, head of women’s and family networks at Corus Entertainment.

The two-episode experiment, set to launch online on June 4 at 8 p.m, will follow the lives of three Toronto women. Following the episode, viewers can engage directly with the show’s subjects through Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #RippleEffect, and post video questions on Instagram.

While the responses from viewers won’t necessarily determine the exact outcome of subsequent episodes, the show aims to explore how the participants react to comments or feedback communicated via social media.

“It’s a grand experiment to try and capture this moment in culture where people are more than ever affected by the opinions and feedback and interactions about everything that you do,” MacDonald said.

Currently W Network plans to only shoot and release two episodes of #RippleEffect with the second episode set to start shooting the day after the first episode premieres online.

While MacDonald said he doesn’t believe #RippleEffect is more risky than a traditional television program, he did note the network will be able to tell quickly if they are hitting the mark on viewer engagement.

“This one has got a more evident measurement tool – if people aren’t tweeting along and aren’t interacting online with the characters, then we have missed a beat in this perhaps,” MacDonald said.

#RippleEffect is produced by the U.K.’s Tony Wood (Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, The Only Way Is Essex), U.K.-based Buccaneer Media and Toronto’s Cineflix Studios. It is produced in association with W Network, with the participation of the Bell Fund’s TV Development Digital Pilot Fund.