“Our normal human tendencies are distraction and dissipation. Too often, we begin one task, then get seduced by some other option, and lose our focus.” – Daniel Pinchbeck
Recently, I have become both intrigued and fascinated with Pinterest. Their growth over the past months has been nothing short of extraordinary. The on-line world has been abuzz over its potential and limitless opportunity. Add in the fact that you can’t spend any significant time with a group of women these days without hearing someone talk about it (even offline)… and you’ve got my attention. So over the past few weeks I have been dabbling into the on-line pinboard.
Thanks to an invite from a friend, I created an account – though my wife uses hers more than I use mine. And I have seen the reason for its enormous popularity. As a result, I have completely embraced it as a traffic-driving website by adding images back into my posts and a Pin-It button at the bottom (ummm, hint-hint). It is as legitimate a social networking site as the others (Twitter, Facebook, Google+)… and growing faster than any of them.
The Benefits of Pinterest
Over the past few weeks of exploring the site (and conducting a number of interviews with users), I have seen the wonderful benefits that Pinterest offers. No doubt their recent growth is because of them:
- Opportunity to “pin” ideas on a virtual pinboard for later reference. The original idea behind the website is a fabulous one. Stumble across a great idea on-line. Pin it (and organize it) with just a few easy clicks to easily find it later when the need arises.
- A filter for the Internet. The Internet is big. As a result, there are tons of helpful articles, recipes, and ideas. But there is also a lot of bad ideas in the exact same space. Taking the time to find the good in the midst of the bad can be a daunting task. Pinterest solves that problem by filtering out the worthless (well, some of it anyway).
- Connect people with similar interests. Enjoy cooking desserts? Shooting photography? Designing interiors? Pinterest offers the opportunity to connect with others (even experts) around the world with similar passions.
- Opportunity to grow in your craft. Many users of Pinterest have used the website to become better at what they do. No matter what your interest/hobby/profession, you can likely find helpful links to inspire and instruct. Teachers, photographers, cooks, and homemakers are growing in their craft. And make no mistake, that’s a great thing for everyone!
- Save money. I have spoken with dozens of women (mostly) concerning their experience on Pinterest. On more than one occasion, it was pointed out to me specifically how an idea found on Pinterest saved them money. These money-saving tips were typically found in Do-It-Yourself remedies, cheap decorative ideas, or recipes that saved money.
- Inspiration. Many of the items found on Pinterest can serve as on-line inspiration for its user. Inspirational quotes and photos are commonplace. Great articles that offer hope can be found on Pinterest (I think to think that’s why some of my posts do so well). Some have even taken this aspect to a whole new level by posting items onto a “Goals” pinboard that promises vacations/experiences/purchases as a reward for accomplishing certain self-improving goals in their lives.
- Brings the family together. I know of many mothers and daughters that have spent time together completing a craft or new recipe found on Pinterest. This even extends to grown daughters who have moved away from home as the platform naturally creates something they have in common with their mothers.
The Inherent Dangers of Pinterest
But I have also seen some unintended consequences among its users that appear unhealthy. And I wanted to raise the awareness level towards them:
- It can be very addictive. This is not new information. Nearly everyone that I spoke to about Pinterest started by saying, “It can be really addictive. Before you know it, you can waste an hour or more just looking at photos and articles.” Obviously, there should be some concern raised over the simple act of wasting time, but the bigger issue centers on the reasons that it becomes so addicting.
- It feeds into our natural tendency to compare our lives with others. Images never tell the whole story… they only tell the story we allow them to tell. And many of the images on Pinterest communicate the story of perfect homes, perfect kids, perfect recipes, perfect body shapes, and perfect outfits. These snapshots in time are not truly representative of the entire story… but we still end up comparing our lives to them and wondering what’s wrong with us.
- It centers our thoughts into a life of fantasy rather than a life of reality. We see stunning photos of a fireplace next to a jet tub overlooking a snow-covered mountain and we can’t help but dream of that reality. But the moment we center our thoughts on that “dream” life, we rob all the joy out of our existing reality. We lose the capacity to fully appreciate all the blessings that surround us when we begin to dream about what we’re missing instead.
- It promotes the pursuit of material possessions. Sometimes intentionally, but mostly unintentionally, Pinterest promotes the pursuit and consumption of material possessions. We see the beautiful photos and desire to own that cute little outfit, perfectly-matched furniture, or one-of-a-kind home decor. Their promises of greater joy in life are pasted all over the screen in front of us. And even if hop on Pinterest for healthy reasons, the subtle messages are unavoidable.
- It becomes easy to confuse “pinning” with “doing.” Pinterest offers incredible opportunity to grow in life and skill. The possibilities are endless… maybe too endless. We discover an idea and discern that it would be fun and worthwhile to pursue. But before we get a chance to start, we discover another and then another and then another… And before too long, we’ve spent the entire time bookmarking exciting new projects but haven’t completed (or even started) any of them. We’d be far better served finding one opportunity and pursuing it with focus and energy before moving onto others.
- It can become a form of unhelpful clutter that robs us of life. The purpose and the layout of Pinterest promotes clutter in our minds. Rarely is anything looked at in a vaccum. Even when we try to isolate one idea, the other images merely fade into the background (not disappear) still calling for us to come back and browse some more. Clutter (physical or mental) always distracts us from joy in the present moment as it calls our attention elsewhere. And Pinterest makes a living providing it.
How to Make the Most of Pinterest
How then does one make use of the medium without falling prey to its unintended consequences?
1. Everything in moderation. Refuse to allow Pinterest to dominate your life. You control it and use it for your benefit… not the other way around. Set a timer. Or choose a time of day (early in the morning, when the kids are at school, etc) that Pinterest won’t distract you from the most important priorities in life.
2. Be mindful. Journey within. The damaging emotions that we have always struggled with still exist, they have just found a new way to surface. Learn to recognize them. Envy, jealousy, selfishness, and unhealthy comparisons have never brought us joy. When you feel them surfacing on Pinterest, turn it off. Get away. And spend some time promoting gratitude.
3. Have a purpose when logging on. If you want to find a new recipe for Tilapia or a fun, inexpensive dessert for your child’s birthday party, Pinterest is a great place to look. If you want to grow in your craft, Pinterest likely offers a number of helpful articles. But if you have a purpose, stay focused. Don’t fall into the temptation to browse other topics. And use the search option to limit mindless browsing.
4. Follow people who add value. The value of Pinterest (just like every other social networking site) is found in the people you follow. If someone is clogging your stream with unhelpful (or unhealthy) links, don’t hesitate to unfollow.
5. Keep in mind that not every one on Pinterest is pure in heart. Pinterest has grown quickly. People are hanging out there. And wherever people are hanging out, entrepreneurs will use it to make money (always!). You may not think you’re seeing paid advertisements when you log onto Pinterest, but you are. Keep that in mind. Some of the posts are intentionally designed to get your money… be warned.
By all means, embrace Pinterest. Enjoy it. Improve your life through it. But doing so in a mindful manner, will keep you from unintentionally pinning unhealthy habits in your heart while you do.
Ilze says
What do you know? Here I found your blog via Pinterest via via another blog…. ;-)
Great, balanced article and a very good read indeed.
I have found Pinterest to be robbing time, BUT I LOVE having the boards…as it helped me not wanting so much in real life… it’s almost like I got the kick of “shopping” and “decorating” virtually and did not need to do it so much in real life…as it simply satisfied a need I had for doing that !
So, for now – go Pinterest !!
Jenn says
I’m surprised that under negatives you don’t list the fact that Pinterest is basically one gigantic copyright violation. Because they store their images on their own servers, they are essentially stealing each picture that gets pinned. On top of that, it is a huge privacy issue, since as soon as an image is “pinned” any viewing restrictions that might have been in place at the original location is out the window. I can only assume that the copyright violations are being ignored — for now– because it is being viewed by the original owners as free advertising. I suspect at some point that will change.
ruth says
I noticed that too. Personally for me the negatives listed here are common sense. The main and only real negative to me is the copyright issue.
Jeremy Vaught says
I don’t post to Pinterest because I’m keeping it minimalist.
Crystal says
Did you read PInterests’ Terms of Service? Please be aware of this before pinning your own pictures. Even if you don’t, this might be worth reading. Whenever you pin your pics, you grant Pinterest irrevocable and transferrable rights to them. And so if you pin others’ images, you are violating any copyright laws they have on those images. Just to be informed of what you’re doing!!!
http://directmatchmedia.com/pinterest-copyright.php
Kathy says
I think Pinterest feeds into the idea that we should be organizing instead of decuttering. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen someone post an “organizing solution” that just looks like a bunch of useless items arranged by color or height. I’m also shocked that people have so much stuff!– unnecessary appliances and kitchen gadgets, spools of ribbons in every color, shelves full of old magazines, etc.
I’m also bothered by so many women who have turned Pinterest into a place to post pictures of “ideal” female bodies. I understand workout and meal tips can be helpful, but I don’t appreciate idolizing a woman simply because of how defined her abs are or how perky her butt is. With all the hours it appears people are spending on Pinterest, I can’t help but think they could be spending that time going for a hike, a jog, volunteering, working on schoolwork, etc.
I’m sure I’m not alone in these feelings. Thanks for the great tips, Joshua, especially the one about “having a purpose when logging on.” I’m definitely going to start applying that one!
NJB says
Exactly!
Kelly says
Thanks Joshua for also pointing out that not only can internet websites such as Pinterest feed into our addictions, but it can also feed into some negative thought processes “Why don’t I look that thin?” or “I wish my house looked that beautiful” etc. While I agree that we can be negatively or positively influenced by the internet, it seems as though many people choose to blame these modes of communication for the “problems” that are arising in our society. I wonder if in reality we might just need to take a deeper look into ourselves and our own tendencies before we start blaming the world around us. The world is probably not going to change its technology, but we as individuals can change, if we want to :-)
petrichore says
Good point! It’s almost as if technology is just a mirror, reflecting back aspects of ourselves, and sometimes amplifying things that are out of balance.
minima/maxima, a blog about minimalist style
kamisaki says
I have been invited over an over to Pinterest, and have been avoiding it at all costs, because of the “virtual clutter” potential it appears to foster. However, I can also see its value (like Facebook can have value when used conscientiously). The last couple years in my life and our home have been all about downsizing and minimalizing. Pinterest seems so counterproductive to that goal. I really appreciated this post. It gives me a way to approach Pinterest, and other sites that are bound to appear that are similar, without letting Pinterest own me. There are some wonderful ideas here, and I will use them as I enter the world of PInterest. Great post!
Pamala says
I have found that looking at Pinterest makes me want more physical things that I do not need. I came to the conclusion before even reading this article that it was too easy to create a “fantasy” self and suddenly NEED all these great things and ideas. Now I exclusively look at recipes and do not follow anything having to do with clothing, jewerly, decorating, etc. I definitely have experienced more negative effects toward my minimalist lifestyle than positive by joining Pinterest.
Megyn @ MinimalistMommi says
I think I may be the only American female NOT on Pinterest. I’m not on it for all of the reasons you posted as negatives. I’ve also found that all that Pinterest offers can be readily found if you just do a Google search (image search can be especially helpful). I’m very interested to see which way Pinterest grows…I’ve already heard moms comment how even the simple holiday of Valentine’s Day may be affected by Pinterest as their children came home with even more “stuff” and more elaborate valentines. I guess time will tell if and how Pinterest will shape mothers…
Shadlyn Wolfe says
You are not alone! I don’t really get it; I’ve got plenty of my own crafts and I’ve never really done the “idea boarding” thing. (I’ve also wondered from time to time if I’m the only homemaker who doesn’t scrapbook…)
Pinterest is a neat idea, but right now I don’t have a need for it in my life.
Faith | Minimalist at Home says
Great tips, Joshua.
Although I really just commented to say I was so happy to see images on your posts again. :-)
Mohamed Tohami says
I like the images too, Faith. Your blog is great as well. It is on my favorite list. The best part that stood out for me in this article is: “It becomes easy to confuse “pinning” with “doing.” ” I believe this is the drawback of all social media sharing tools. People tend to SHARE more than they actually ACT. And we all know that action is what makes all the difference.