Pinterest was cool once, right? It was inspiring, it peaked your interest, obviously. Originally, it was ideally an online platform to share and express individuality. Inspiration is a declaration of self, an exploration of creativity. Basically, most people aren’t consulting their muse in the midst of negativity and self doubt. But because of Pinterest, users are being bombarded by mixed messages causing pinners left wondering, “Am I good enough?”.
As a website and sharing platform intended to encourage creativity and inspiration, Pinterest is predominantly female populated. While there are men contributing to the cyber idea board, moms, teachers, lifestyle bloggers and a slew of other women-dominant circles are really in control here. And what they’re telling you, you’re probably buying. This is unfortunate for several reasons.
Although the creative’s social media platform, Pinterest, was created with the best intentions, (aren’t they all?) it’s evolved into a hybrid brag board. Stay at home moms who have perfected edible play dough, teachers displaying their ridiculously tedious games and room designs, fitness gurus telling you how to get in shape are taking over! It makes you feel like a loser. Because you’re not woman enough.
As if the photos of body builder chicks, and healthy snack alternatives aren’t bad enough, the overzealous catalogue of celebrities is terrifying. What are we saying as women, as people, that our inspiration comes from a select pool of sun bathing, celery eating film stars? We’re already surrounded by them at the market in magazines, on television, Twitter, billboards; the list goes on and on. A place of inspiration, somewhere to be yourself and feel enlightened, is being inflitrated by people that aren’t even part of our reality.
In case you’ve lost touch with reality, know that Pinterest can cure it. Amidst the crafts that make you feel like a bad parent and weightloss programs that make you feel like a whale are reminders that seriously clash with the aforementioned messages. Aesthetically pleasing, feel good mottos like, “Be Brave,” and “The Best is Yet to Come,” might make you think there is still hope in this world. But mixed in with the other content, it just feels disingenuous. So what’s up? Half are telling you that you’re failing as a creative woman; the other half is desperately clinging to therapeutic qlichés.
Let’s reminisce for a bit . . . I can remember just a few months back to when my Pinterest homepage was a glorious collage of beautiful interiors, rad graphic designs, international editorial fashion spreads, and the occassional celebrity or exotic travel photograph. It was still a creative phenomenom where original individuals posted their unique content. They shared ideas, as oppossed to forcing ideas of what a true woman is. Now all I see is what I’m not and what I can’t do.
This is wrong. Pinterest has become it’s own antithesis.
This makes me frustrated and it should make you frustrated. It’s absolute madness that a site for sparking artistry and imagination makes you feel bad. We’re not even talking about that moment of, “Why didn’t I think of that?” We’re talking about that feeling of inadequacy.
Being told you need to do jumping jacks during every commercial break, should make dinner every night, and fill your home with insanse DIY projects is disheartening. Next time you login in for an evening of pin bingeing, take a look and think. Is Pinterest really in your best interest?
DISCLAIMER: I LOVE PINTEREST! I LONG TO SEE A CREATIVELY CURATED PINTEREST POPULAR FEED AGAIN!
What are your thoughts with the increased popularity of Pinterest? Like it ? Love it?
