OK guys, I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to Pinterest. I remember the moment I was introduced to the social media website. A friend opened the webpage, and it was love at first sight. A venue to browse and admire beautiful home interiors, obscure travel destinations, easy-to-make recipes, colorful baubles and this season’s fashion trends? I was definitely in.
Pinterest, an invitation-only website established in March 2010, allows members to create pin boards to organize and share what they love. This virtual board serves as an online scrapbook to curate images from all over the Internet.
While the website began two years ago this month, a widespread Pinterest addiction only arose this past December. And Alabama is not behind on this trend.
According to an online study by Experian Hitwise, the state ranks third in Pinterest usage with four percent of the website users living in Alabama. While Experian Hitwise didn’t break the numbers down to individual cities, I am certain Tuscaloosa holds its ground in the Pinterest universe.
As a journalism major interested in fashion and interior design, stacks of glossy magazines naturally surround my house. In an effort to mark my likes in each issue, I fold down page corners then store the magazines for future reference.
I now have another venue to express my love of visuals. Instead of my likes hiding between the covers of each magazine, Pinterest allows me to create my own boards to display my style to the world.
I treat the website as a resource to dream and “window shop” from the comfort of my laptop. My 11 style boards and over 800 pins consist of the clothes that would occupy my dream closet, the places I wish to travel, neat DIY projects and images of my celebrity obsessions. I also become my own personal wedding and event planner while on the website, pinning various images of white peonies, colorful table settings and yummy drink recipes.
Emma Henderson, a sophomore majoring public relations, believes Pinterest has become a phenomenon in the lecture halls and around campus.
“I sit at the top of the room, and all I see is Pinterest,” Henderson says. “Every computer screen in class is Pinterest, not Facebook.”
Henderson sees the cascading rows of computer screens on Pinterest, but she doesn’t see all the Pinterest action in the classroom. Mary Allen Russell, a sophomore majoring in fashion retail and accounting, hides her pinning on her iPad tablet and Henderson herself admits to being a fan of the app on her iPhone.
“I use my phone so people don’t look at my screen,” Henderson says. “I’m normally looking up pictures of cute animals and golden retrievers.”
In this week full of midterms and last-minute assignments before spring break, I strongly advise you to steer clear of Pinterest if you aren’t already an avid fan.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m totally a fan. Addicted, I would say. I know I’ll be pinning away spring trends full of color block garments and neon accessories, but I’m especially dreaming this week thinking only of what I’m packing in my spring break suitcase.
I’m not saying to avoid the website altogether, just don’t add it to your daily Internet rounds just yet. If you want to join the cult of Pinterest addicts, request your invitation when you have a little time to waste.
Once you create your style boards, there’s an overwhelming desire to pin away and make yours the best. Believe me, I know. After all, who wants their taste to look as if it’s lacking?
