BY MELISSA BUSH
Pinterest is a phenomenon that has exploded in popularity in the less than three years since its launch.
It is a social website that allows users to ‘pin’ images to their theme-based boards. Users can follow their friends, and they can follow back. The site allows users to search Pinterest for things that interest you.
Browsing blogs, shopping online or searching for images will provide access to the little white box with a small red P in it. Clicking on the button allows you to ‘pin’ whatever you are looking at to the Pinterest board of your choice. Pinterest boards range in themes from home decorating to a bucket list.
Many people are pinning projects they want to complete or recipes they want to try. There are a multitude of inspirational quotes being pinned. “Pinners,” or those participating in Pinterest, share things they want such as tattoos, clothes or shoes. Often, pinners have boards with their favorite places, movies or musicians.
Following your friends on Pinterest allows what they are pinning to show up on your Pinterest homepage. They can follow you to see your pins when they log in.
If you like someone’s recipe board, but do not want to follow their home decorating board, you can follow only the recipe board. You can follow a person’s individual boards or all of them, customizing Pinterest to fit your personal preferences.
Is Pinterest just a place we go to pin things we will never do or make? Are we just living through our boards without accomplishing any of the projects or trips? The jokes are limitless. I have pinned thousands of recipes and projects. While it will take a lifetime to do them all, I now know where to look for what I like.
There is no searching when I want to try a new recipe. I know where to look if I want a new project. Simply clicking the particular board presents me with the items I like and have found. I have already tried many of the recipes, and with excellent results. I have begun several projects. Yes, some of the things I have pinned are probably never going to come to fruition, but what is the harm in pinning your dream house or vacation?
Pinterest offers something different from other social networking sites. There are no status updates. You are not bombarded with political rants, weather updates or every movement of your friends.
Logging in offers you a view of pins you want to see and the opportunity to like or comment on what your friends have pinned. Many times I repin what my friends have pinned.
Today I heard Pinterest used as a verb. Someone asked me what I was “Pinteresting” when inquiring about my latest do-it-yourself project. It reminded me of people talking about “Facebooking.” I enjoy Pinterest and can be entertained by it for quite some time when I log in. However, unlike some types of Internet browsing, Pinterest is adding something to my life. I do not feel like it is just a “time suck,” as I have heard it referred to by many.
So have you been Pinteresting lately?
BY MELISSA BUSH
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