1. Is Pinterest helping to lower your self-esteem?

    By Jeannie Rodriguez

               Social networking is all the rage, but no platform has blown up as fast as Pinterest.  For those who are not familiar with the network, Pinterest is “an online pinboard where you can organize and share the things you love,” at least that’s how the site’s homepage describes it. The site offers 31 categories, ranging alphabetically from Architecture to Wedding & Events, where users can admire the creativity, beauty and ingenuity of others. Within five minutes, you can discover a new recipe, craft ideas, hairstyles, and photos of lots and lots of cute babies dressed in whatever you can imagine.

                For some, however, Pinterest browsing easily makes the shift from wide-eyed inspiration into troubled comparison. I’ve seen that many women, including friends of mine on the network, sit on Pinterest and compare their skills, creativity, bodies and material to others. There are so many boards named something along the lines of, “My Dream Home,” “Future Husband,” or scarier boards labeled “Motivation” and “My Ideal Body” that contain images of women who are nothing more than skin and bones.

                Allison Harrell from Relevant Magazine wrote in a blog post that women using the platform need a “Pintervention” to reassess their desires and motivations. That way they can appreciate the social media site for what it was intended for: a place to share the things you love, not the things you envy. 

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