First off, I love Pinterest. I find it a great source for inspiration, recipes, kid activities, and more. I have it bookmarked on my computer as well as in app form on my phone. But I discovered something I think is share-worthy about Pinterest (especially if your kids like to pin)...there is content which is, um, well you decide...Pinterest or Soft Porn?
I first heard of erotic photos on Pinterest via a friend's status update on Facebook. Apparently, her daughter had typed in a doll's name which came up with all sorts of results (the kind of non-doll-related results your 5-year-old might not be ready for). From there I did a bit of research and found out Mashable had done an interesting post "Pinterest or Porn-terest?" I even searched "Caroline" (my own name) in Pinterest and found a few risqué pictures which were, well, certainly not me.
Consider this pin: nude or naughty?
I don't really see that naked lady as art (and yes she's absolutely naked in the original pin — clearly so — I added the boxes so that it wouldn't be explicit here). I do consider it to have a sexuality that doesn't fit with with my kids at their present ages. And I'd appreciate them not stumbling across it when they pinned.
Now, my kids have seen naked-body-parts. Statues at museums. Print ads in France. Topless beaches in Spain. I am not sheltering them from body parts. It's the sexuality which alerts my parent radar.
If you search "Porn" on Pinterest, you are most likely to see shoes or bags. "Erotica" brings up pictures of Madonna. But should you search "hot military men" the visuals of servicemen taking half-naked selfies pop up. "Boudoir," "Nudes," and "Sexy" also can bring unexpected pins.
On Pinterest's side, they do try to give you — the pinner — regulating rights over questionable material. Under the Acceptable Use Policy they state:
You agree not to post User Content that is sexually explicit or pornographic
Moreover, they have a page dedicated to Pin Etiquette and invite pinners to report or flag questionable pins.
In the end, I suppose it's not up to Pinterest to filter and sort the pins or pin boards. But should your kids pin, just know there are not parental controls on the site. Use your own judgement and do your own research. Like everything on the web...Pinterest is a wealth of information with a few dark corners. Keep your kids out of the dark corners.
What do you think: Do nudity and sexuality belong on Pinterest?
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