The Magic of Pinterest: Social Media Without the “Social”
I have been an avid Pinterest user since my middle school years. That app has seen me go through all the phases. Throughout the years, updates have greatly improved my experience on the platform, and despite little hiccups along the way, it remains one of my favorite apps on my phone.
In contrast to Instagram, which has only gotten worse in recent years, I have found that spending time on Pinterest organizing boards and sorting pins is actually the perfect way to relieve stress and gain back a sense of control and order in my life.
It almost sounds stupid, but during the darker moments of my life, I turned to Pinterest for comfort. I would spend hours on the app finding quotes that cheered me up, planning my future, mapping out my dream life, you name it. I made pointless mood boards based on the books I read or the show I was watching at the time. I made a hobby out of it, and in time, it became a coping mechanism for me.
Even now, whenever I’m feeling anxious or like I am spiraling, I open the app and start sorting pins into my boards. One of the greatest aspects of the app is that it feels like there are barely any other people on it. This might sound bad for a social media app, but it is actually what makes it so appealing for many people. Unless you are reaching out to other users, you can work on your boards in peace and occupy this tiny corner of the Internet without disturbances.
No anxiety from posting, no quote-tweeting, no getting left on open, or not having “enough” likes. Even though the app does have features such as messaging and saving Pins, it lacks the sense of apprehension that is so common in apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
Not to mention, Pinterest is great for inspiration, for anything from fashion to cooking to quelling your random desire to get your life together at 3 am. Although you can have followers and follow other people on the app, no one is going to judge you if you have oddly specific boards, as long as they make you happy! It is similar to when people make Spotify playlists with those really long and strange names that only they would understand, a glimpse into someone else’s life.
Many of the trends that are seen on Tiktok or Instagram originate on Pinterest, or the other way around. Sometimes all the different social media apps can blur into one since the content across platforms can be very similar. For instance, the “indie” trend that was popular last summer was also all over Pinterest. The app is very much up to date with all the trends, it is not just for millennials planning their weddings or teachers looking for classroom decorations.
However, nothing is perfect, and Pinterest is no exception to that. Lately, the app has been pushing some updates to the mobile version that have discouraged some users from using it. For one, they changed the search settings so you can no longer find boards that people make. I was very upset when I found this out because searching through boards was one of the few ways I discovered new people and their interests.
Another issue that I have noticed with the app is that there is not as much diversity as there should be. Now, they do have a useful feature that allows you to filter some of your searches by skin tone or range, narrowing down the results to fit your skin type. What I am talking about is diversity when it comes to body types and in fashion posts. I have seen that the app tends to display content of slim, white women more than anything else.
The upside is, just like any other social media app, Pinterest does follow an algorithm. The more you search and pin photos that fit your aesthetic, body type, skin color, interests, the more likely your feed will become more curated for you.
So, before you download Pinterest, be aware that you may have to fine-tune your feed and make it your own, since it will automatically cater to a specific kind of audience. Nonetheless, once you get the hang out of it, this is your warning that you may find yourself on the app at 3 am.