Pinterest: The Positive Social Media Platform 

In a sea of many popular social media platforms, Pinterest is differentiating itself. Pinterest is looking to position itself as a positive social media platform. Their goal is to create a platform that leaves their users with beneficial experiences. 

Pinterest’s Additive Algorithm

Pinterest has made many intentional choices over the last decade to create a more positive platform. One way of doing so is through their conscious algorithm that suggests content based on signals from their users. The platform hopes that their platform’s AI is additive, not addictive will help curb the social media crisis. Recent data has shown that social media users scroll on average one mile every day. 

Pinterest feed.

Pinterest Prioritizing Emotional Well-Being of Users

The platform is also focused on protecting the emotional well-being of its users, specifically teenagers. Pinterest utilizes a strict self-harm policy to remove content that could put teens’ mental health at risk. In addition, the platform wants to “design in the good” and make Pinterest more representative. An example of their efforts can be seen in their hair pattern search and skin tone ranges. Pinterest believes that “no one should have to work harder to find content that’s relevant to them.” 

Pinterest feature where users can explore posts by skin range.

UC Berkley Study on the Positive Impacts of Pinterest

These actions Pinterest has taken are proving to have actual impacts on its users. In a new study performed by UC Berkeley, researchers examined the effect of Pinterest on college students’ stress levels. The data showed that as little as 10 minutes on Pinterest daily helped lower their stress levels. In addition to lowering stress levels, it helped provide a buffer against burnout. This study helps show that Pinterest’s strategic tactics to create a positive platform are working. 

With many social media platforms dedicating resources to compete with TikTok’s addictive algorithm, Pinterest is a bright spot. Rather than adapt its platform like Instagram is with Reels, Pinterest is forging a new path as a positive social media platform. As of July 2022, Pinterest has 433 million monthly active users, and it is expected to continue growing.

Is Pinterest the Social Media Dark Horse? 

Over the last year, Pinterest has undergone various changes and restructuring in their leadership and their platform’s functions through technology acquisitions. This has resulted in an influx of user and brand attention. This has caused a revitalization of the platform, founded in 2008, making it a major player in social media and communication once again. 

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Pinterest’s Partnership With Target Creates New Shopping Experience

 

To many, it may seem that Pinterest is becoming less and less relevant in the social media world. On Monday, however, Pinterest announced its partnership with Target that will bring new capabilities to users and shoppers alike. Pinterest’s partnership with Target will change the way shoppers use social media to find products they like. 

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The Sound of Music – Empowering Freedom of Expression through Social Media

Pandora and Spotify, two Internet Radio programs, have incorporated social media sharing capabilities to allow for their users to connect and engage on a global scale over the common interest of music.

Pandora and Spotify, two Internet Radio programs, have incorporated social media sharing capabilities to allow for their users to connect and engage on a global scale over the common interest of music.

Digital communication and social media platforms have transformed the way that individuals around the globe converse, share information, and learn more about themselves and one another. Whether it be through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Periscope, Tumblr, or Snapchat, communication mediums such as these have allowed for people of all ages, shapes and sizes to express themselves while engaging and sharing with others. Unlike these forums, which allow for a plethora of diverse opinions, expressions, dialogues, and interests to float freely, music platforms, such as Pandora Internet Radio and Spotify, focus solely on one passion that unites millions – music.

As unique as it is for the social media platforms mentioned above to act as unrestricted forums for really anything to be displayed, discussed, or analyzed, music programs such as Pandora bring people together over one common platform that spawns a plethora of variety. It brings people together over a shared passion for music, specifically personal musical taste, while also allowing for that passion to be shared with other like-minded users, both known and unknown. This social media and sharing component of music programs, particularly featured with Spotify and Pandora, is what has given them the competitive advantage needed in order to collaborate with rather than be outshone by their social media competitors.

To give a bit of background, Pandora, started in 2000, is the world’s most powerful music discovery platform with over 80 million active users. Spotify, launched in 2008, also allows its 60 million active users to play music directly from the cloud, and features more than 30 million tracks. One of the key differences between the two is their source of revenue-  while Spotify has about 20% of their 60 million users pay for the service, Pandora only has 3.5 million paying customers. This suggests that the benefits of Spotify’s Premium memberships outweigh the cost compared to Pandora’s offerings. The two programs have both joined forces with Facebook, allowing for users to share their playlists and music activity with their Facebook friends. Spotify also features a “Music Chat” component, which provides users with a free space to chat about anything music related. Much like how Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram allow for individuals to express themselves through design, images and graphics, Spotify and Pandora allow for the same creative expression but through the art of music. In the case of Spotify, it allows for users to use their own creative discretion in creating playlists comprised of whatever musical tracks, artists and genre that they want. When adding in the social media aspect, this provides an outlet for users’ creations to be shared to the world, giving them a way to represent themselves through a collaboration of sounds that they themselves have designed. In the case of Pandora, their use of the Music Genome Project, which is the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken, allows for users to be provided with the most personalized listening experience possible. By utilizing the wealth of musicological information stored in the Music Genome Project, Pandora recognizes and responds to each individual’s tastes. “The result is a much more personalized radio experience – stations that play music you’ll love – and nothing else.” This too allows for users to represent themselves via personalized music playlists.

In a world where reputation is something that takes a lifetime to create and yet can be lost in a matter of seconds, it is important for individuals to have creative outlets to represent themselves in a more personal and less serious manner. There is no right or wrong when it comes to personal taste in music, and with programs such as Spotify and Pandora, creative expression through music is celebrated rather than critiqued. It allows for personal representation that can be shared and result in strong connections made with like-minded users on a global scale. Most importantly, it allows for people to choose how they want to portray themselves through their personal taste in music, empowering individuals to practice freedom of expression in a safe and unrestricted forum.

Pinnning! Pinterest’s New Guided Search is Awesome

Pinners Can Explore 30 Billion Pins With a Few Key Words

Pinterest guided search makes searching Pinterest easier for users.How many times have you opened Pinterest to search for a quick dinner recipe only to be sucked into a vortex of DIY projects, interior design ideas, and inspirational quotes? Pinterest now has Guided Search, a new, easier way to search through 30 Billion pins and find exactly what you’re looking for on your mobile devices. It’s as awesome as it sounds. Continue reading

Using Pinterest as a Business Tool

Can Pinterest Be More Profitable For Your Business Than Facebook and Twitter?

Who doesn’t love Pinterest? This quick-to-rise virtual pin board has become a social media giant in a matter of three years. In today’s visually driven society, Pinterest offers users a completely visual experience with themes ranging from food and home décor to sports and world travel.

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Travel with Pinterest Using Place Pins

Place Pins

Pinterest announced a new tool yesterday, called Place Pins. Place Pins is a product that can feature local spots that might interest users as well as help users plan vacations.

Place Pins can be found on a new pin board that features a map where users can pin locations such as restaurants, bars, tourist sites or different hot spots around a city and add descriptions about them. With partners such as Trulia, Booking.com and OpenTable, these new Place Pins include a brief description of each location. Not only can users create their own Place Pins board for trip ideas or places to go, but they can also share their entire board with their friends.

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The Biggest Loser

Fan of the show or not, The Biggest Loser is doing it right with social media. Current on its 14th season, the two-hour premiere of TBL lured in roughly 6.9 million views. This season is completely different than any others. For the first time ever, TBL has children on the show and they are calling for a health revolution.  Continue reading

Events and Pinterests

Pinterests can be used to help you with many different aspects of planning your event. The website gives you many different event ideas and is organized into different categories. There are so many categories that could help plan a party such as: food and drink, outdoors, gardening, weddings, and even holidays and events, etc. Continue reading

Successful Event Planning

How To Get Your Event Out There!

In order to plan a great party or event, you need to use public relations. How else are you going to get the word out there? Today, more than ever, you need to reach your target audience and the best way to reach them is through social media.

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