Fiber One: Content

“The sharing of content enhances connectedness between people and also helps many acquire a (global) stage for public viewing. More than anything, cultural content—whether text, music, or videos—draws out opinions on what people like or dislike, what they covet or loathe, what interests them and what does not. And while common tastes and desires can be deployed to harness bonds and discover group affiliations, they also provide precious information on social trends and consumer preferences” (Van Dijck, 2013, p. 35).

OK so, Pinterest's content might not keep you regular, but I bet you could find a recipe for that! Van Dijck acknowledges that content, user agency and technology are three interrelated fibers that make up online sociality (2013, p. 36). To reiterate an earlier post, Pinterest as a user-generated site supports creativity and cultural exchange. People are able to connect with others online who share similar interests.

While most users simply pin other people’s images, the content on Pinterest comes from people or businesses trying to sell products. Their end goal is to drive traffic to their website or blog through the images and content that they share on Pinterest. Although Van Dijck writes that, "user-generated content is considered unfinished, recycled input, in contrast to the polished finished products of mainstream media" (Van Dijck, 2013, p. 35), the standardized display of content on Pinterest is visually appealing and helps people to find content more easily.

As you saw in the video in the first blog post, you are asked to select at least five categories of interest upon sign-up so that the content you see is tailored to your interests. The categories include animals and pets, art, food, gardening, humour and fashion, but you also have the option of selecting “everything,” or only those categories that are popular. One of the categories I chose for my personal account was 'food and drink.' Below is a quick video that will show you how to add pins to a board. Pinterest gives you the option of creating private boards, which I show you how to do at the end of the video.

Works Cited

Van Dijck, J. (2013). The culture of connectivity: A critical history of social media. Oxford: Oxford University Press.