Is Pinterest Safe?

If you use or plan to use Pinterest, you need to know: Is Pinterest safe? 

Below, we explain whether Pinterest is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a social media platform designed for discovering, sharing, and organizing ideas and inspiration through visual content. 

Users can create and manage themed collections of images, known as “pins,” on boards. Pins can link back to the original source, making it easy to access more information about the pinned content.

Users organize their pins on different boards, which act as themed collections. For example, someone might have separate boards for recipes, home decor, fashion, or travel destinations. Pinterest’s search functionality helps users discover new ideas based on keywords. It also suggests pins and boards based on users’ interests and activity.

Many pins feature products that can be purchased, often directly through Pinterest’s interface, making it a popular platform for discovering and buying new items.

Is Pinterest Safe?

Yes, Pinterest is generally considered a safe platform, with safety features available to help keep users protected.

For example, users can make their profile visible to everyone or just their followers. They can also create secret boards that are only visible to them and selected collaborators. Lastly, users can block and report other users who harass or spam them.

Pinterest uses automated systems and human moderators to monitor and remove inappropriate material, such as spam, hate speech, and explicit material. Users can report pins, boards, and profiles that violate Pinterest’s community guidelines.

Pinterest receives a score of 856 out of 950 from the cybersecurity company UpGuard. The few concerns listed include:

• The lack of secure cookies.
• The lack of a valid Certification Authority Authorization record.
• The use of weak cipher suites.

Pinterest experienced data breaches in 2013 and 2014, but there have been no major breaches since. 

In 2023, Pinterest introduced new safety tools and parental controls following an NBC News investigation that found bad actors using the service to curate image boards of children. 

Is Pinterest safe to use?

Pinterest is generally considered safe to use. 

It offers several security and privacy features, including:

• Privacy settings: Users can control the visibility of their boards and pins. You can make boards private, ensuring only invited collaborators can see them. 
• Content moderation and reporting: Pinterest has community guidelines to prevent the spread of harmful or inappropriate content. Users can report pins, boards, and profiles that violate these guidelines. The platform’s moderation team reviews these reports and takes appropriate action.
• Spam and scam prevention: Pinterest actively identifies and removes spammy or scam content. 
• Block and restrict users: If another user is causing issues or making you uncomfortable, you can block them. Blocking a user prevents them from following you, messaging you, or interacting with your content.
• Sensitive content warnings: Pinterest provides warnings for sensitive content that may be inappropriate or disturbing. Users can choose to view such content after acknowledging the warning.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA): Pinterest offers two-factor authentication for an added layer of security. This helps protect your account from unauthorized access by requiring a second form of verification when logging in.

That said, there are concerns about privacy, particularly regarding the data Pinterest collects and how it’s used. Users have also noted the inconvenience of shadowbanning, where boards or pins are hidden without clear reasons or notifications.

Also, while downloading images from Pinterest generally poses minimal risk since image files are typically not executable, caution is advised when clicking on external links within pins, as these can potentially lead to unsafe websites.

Is Pinterest safe to buy from?

Depends on who you’re buying from. 

Pinterest itself is not a marketplace but a platform where various vendors advertise their products. The reliability of these vendors can vary significantly. It is recommended to research the seller thoroughly before making a purchase. Look for reviews and ratings on the seller’s website or other platforms to verify their legitimacy​.

Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, as these can often be scams. 

Is Pinterest safe, according to Reddit?

According to Reddit, Pinterest is not safe in the sense that it can suspend users’ accounts at any time and for any reason, including pinning (i.e., not uploading) images that go against their content guidelines. 

Is Pinterest safe for work?

Whether Pinterest is safe for work depends on several factors, including your workplace’s internet usage policies, the type of content you engage with, and how you use the platform.

While Pinterest generally moderates content well, you may encounter inappropriate or non-work-safe images, especially if you browse more broadly. 

This can be mitigated by carefully curating your boards and the profiles you follow​.

Is Pinterest lite safe?

While some users appreciate the lightweight nature of Pinterest Lite for quicker access to Pinterest’s features, there are mixed feelings about the app’s overall reliability and the company’s data practices. 

The app is considered a good alternative for devices with limited resources but may not solve all issues present in the main app.

Is Pinterest Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.” 

Pinterest has some privacy settings that allow users to set their preferences regarding the sharing of their personal information with Pinterest, other users, and third parties. 

Users can also opt out of some data uses, such as ad personalization, and make their profiles private for optimal privacy.

In its privacy policy, Pinterest outlines how and when it collects information, such as during account creation (when name, email address, birthday, gender, location, interests, and preferred language are collected), when users access content (when saved Pins and communications are collected), and when the service is used (during which time device information, IP address, cookie information, and usage data is collected).

Pinterest receives a “Grade E” from Terms of Service; Didn’t Read, a project that rates internet services’ terms of service and privacy policies. 

Among the concerns listed are the fact that the service can store your data even if you didn’t interact with the service, the service potentially holding onto data you’ve deleted, the service tracking you on other websites, the service using your personal information for marketing, and the service collecting information about you through third parties. 

The Common Sense Privacy Program, which rates internet services based on how privacy-friendly they are for kids, gives Pinterest a score of 63% out of 100%.

It issues warnings for selling personal information to third parties, sharing personal information with third parties for marketing, showing personalized advertising, data collection by third parties, and creating data profiles for personalized advertisements.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Pinterest

For a safer and more private experience on Pinterest, follow these steps:

• Use secret boards. When creating a new board, toggle the option to make it secret. You can also edit existing boards to make them secret. Use secret boards for personal projects.
• Adjust privacy settings. Prevent search engines from linking to your profile by going to Settings > Privacy and data > Search Privacy and toggling “Hide your profile from search engines.” Adjust visibility and activity preferences under Account Settings.
• Control personal information. Limit what you share in your profile bio, avoiding personal details like your full name, location, or contact information. Ensure your email is not publicly visible.
• Manage followers and interactions. Regularly check your followers list and remove any accounts you don’t recognize or trust. Block or report users who are intrusive or violate Pinterest’s guidelines.
• Limit connected apps. Go to Settings > Apps and remove any third-party apps you no longer use or trust. This can help limit unexpected data sharing.
• Customize ad preferences. Manage how Pinterest uses your data for ads by going to Settings > Privacy and data. Toggle off options you’re uncomfortable with, such as using information from third parties.
• Follow best security practices. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) in Settings > Security. Use a strong, unique password for your Pinterest account and update it regularly.
• Review data sharing and activity. Manage how your activity and data are used for personalization by going to Settings > Privacy and data. Toggle off any options that you prefer to keep private. Ensure your pins, likes, and comments are set to be visible only to you or a restricted audience.
• Be mindful of pinning. Avoid pinning sensitive or personal information publicly. Ensure the content you pin is from reliable and safe sources to avoid linking to potentially harmful websites.
• Regular privacy audits. Regularly review and update your privacy settings and account preferences to ensure they align with your current privacy needs.