Thinspo, the gross and double gross, not to mention incredibly dangerous and not at all responsible “group” of insidious starve-junkies recently pushed their toothpick social personalities onto the vastly popular networking outlet Pinterest. Happy to say this super fun and addicting website, host to everything from fame to foodies has banned Thinspo for inappropriate online behavior, sited for soliciting and encouraging anorexia, purging and other forms of self harm. The site Jezebel, one of QG WD favs for to-the-point lifestyle info recently posted;
“Today, popular microblogging social media site Pinterest posted updated terms of use to explicitly bar posting content that others may find emotionally distressing or that risks encouraging physical or mental illness. So does this mean that pro-anorexia “thinspo” boards will have to find a new home?
After Tumblr and Facebook instituted stricter anti-self-harm policies, Pinterest became the blogging platform of choice for women (and some men) who wanted to use social media as a way to encourage themselves and others to remain impossibly bony. But according to the National Eating Disorders Association, turning a blind eye to that sort of content endangers some users, especially those recovering from anorexia or bulimia.
The new terms of service prohibit posting content that “creates a risk of harm, loss, physical or mental injury, emotional distress, death, disability, disfigurement, or physical or mental illness to yourself, to any other person, or to any animal,” which pretty much says “DON’T POST THINSPO STUFF, GUYS” without coming right out and saying it. The new terms go into effect on April 6, so if you want your fill of jutting out shoulder blades with the tags #perfect #thin and #pretty underneath, get ‘em while they’re legal (poor things).
Someone familiar with the inner workings of the site told me yesterday that the deluge of Thinspo boards on Pinterest and the attention they garnered from the general public caught the site’s staff off guard. Changes to the site’s Terms of Use have been in the works for some time, but staff wanted to approach the topic delicately. Additionally, there may be additional tweaks to the Terms of Use in the future, and the site’s working with outside groups to make sure these changes are made in a way that respects the freedom of expression of their users but doesn’t foster unhealthy behavior.
That public concern motivated the site to make changes is an encouraging sign. What remains to be seen, though, is how the updated Terms of Use will be fairly and evenly implemented — it’s one thing to say harmful content isn’t allowed; it’s another to cultivate a community that respects those guidelines en masse.”
Let’s applaud Pinterest for delicately nailing these confused and emotionally wayward bunches and we hope the awareness brought to the front on the seriousness of eating disorders can be a good thing. For solid information on where someone can find help you can point them to the National Eating Disorder Association and to have a blast discovering hip pics and fabulous finds on Pinterest register and check it out here; http://pinterest.com
Lisa Pool Content Manager
About Our Content Manager; Lisa Pool is the creative consultant for QG and acts as the lead contributing writer and Content Manager for the Queen Grace Weekly Dish. Lisa owns the branding agency, cc101 Productions. As someone who thrives on current trends and events, Lisa and her guest bloggers bring to the QG WD contemporary posts on topics important to our QG community. Follow Lisa on Facebook at; Creative Consulting cc101 and on Twitter @cc101production - Lisa also writes for MindBodyGreen, Divine Caroline, Conscious Divas, The Examiner and Redbook Magazine. About our blog; Marina Zelner created the Queen Grace brand as a high-fashion company that designs exclusively for the contemporary full-figured woman. Every one of our distinct collections celebrates her freedom, confidence and inner beauty. The QG Weekly Dish blog is an extension of this vision. The QGWD will share posts by our staff, contributing writers, guest bloggers and popular industry feeds from time to time. Follow us on Facebook at; Queen Grace Collection and on Twitter @QGCollection
The Queen Grace Collection brand was launched in 2010 by stylist Marina Zelner. Marina created Queen Grace as a high-fashion company that designs exclusively for the contemporary full-figured woman. Every one of our distinct collections celebrates her freedom, confidence and inner beauty.
Sophia Yoo (1 year ago)
Ms. Pool,
This is an excellent post that highlights the implications put forth by social media platforms like Pinterest and its policy changes. As a student focusing in entertainment and fashion, it is interesting to see how much of an effect digital media can have on this prevalent issue of pro-anorexia groups. I personally feel that these pro-ana and thinspo groups online can have such a detrimental effect on our youth today. I liked your point that “turning a blind eye to that sort of content endangers some users, especially those recovering from anorexia or bulimia.” Often, people do not think about the recovering addicts and you’re certainly right, those victims are probably the most in danger. All kinds of people use social media and without the these social media platforms taking responsibility for content posted on their sites, our society cannot reach new heights to combat serious issues such as this.
Although the situation seems to have been dealt with, I wonder how effective it really is when social media websites take action such as they have done by changing their policies. Fashionista.com points out that a quick search on Tumblr will show that pro-ana blogs and images still exist on their database, despite the policy changes. If they are going to change their policies, I wish these sites would be more consistent and enforce the new rules. Instead of just changing their policies, I feel it may be more effective if social media websites offered different alternatives or provided some type of help to these victims. Do you feel that any alternatives or help could be provided through these social media platforms? If so, how effective do you think they could be? I also think it is important to note that Pinterest did a fairly good job addressing the issue delicately, as you mentioned. Unlike Tumblr’s policy change, Pinterest did not pinpoint content that focused on self-harm. Pinterest carefully crafted its new policy to include a broad range of topics. With any ban on the Internet, websites must worry that they are infringing on rights, but I hope that infringement will not be an issue with this situation. Can you see this becoming an issue?
Lisa Pool Content Manager (1 year ago)
Sophia,
I am truly pleased to see you not only take time to post a comment on this sensitive topic, but to also express yourself so diplomatically and with grace. The issue with social media platforms getting into the area of offering resources or assistance to curb the blatant abuse by groups like Thinspo, is they are not equipped to lend advise most often, and the legal ramifications to the company could be stiff if a writer or staffer guided someone without the credentials to do so. As you mentioned the free speech matter is also very delicate and in the US, something strongly protected.
I feel we are in a very interesting time in all our lives and with the global affect that social media plays, sites like Pinterest taking a stand and announcing the ban on Thinspo posts is a solid step to sharing the importance of protection for those individuals living with and recovering from an eating disorder. I think though too, the gates are wide, wide open for so many outlets for unsafe and dangerous messages, that now more than ever the consumer must be hyper aware of the realities that there are those that prey on victims; it’s insightful and thoughtful comments like yours here on the QG WD that can what makes a difference.
Keep reading and thank you for being here!
Lisa
cc101
QG.com