Social media platforms have made it infinitely easier for people to acquire information from others, but in spite of the fact that this is the case it has also ended up making it easier for misinformation to end up spreading with all things having been considered and taken into account. That’s why many industry leaders have been calling on social media sites to start implementing policies that can help reduce this spread of misinformation, and Pinterest seems to be taking that seriously.
The company had a bit of a resurgence over the past couple of years which breathed new life into its business model, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that it is trying to get a handle on climate change misinformation in particular in order to keep its growing user base safe. Pinterest recently announced its new policy which represents an outright ban on any misinformation concerning climate change, making it the first major tech company to do anything of this sort.
Pinterest will now take down posts and other content on the site which references climate change denial or goes against the scientific consensus regarding the reality of an impending climate crisis. Such a step is vital because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making Pinterest one of the only places where the right information can be presented to its users, and other platforms might be forced to follow suit because of the presence that has been set by this new policy.
Another thing to note about this policy is that it applies to ads as well as regular posts. That’s important since many platforms, with Facebook being a particularly egregious example, seem more than happy to let misinformation spread through ads as long as it helps them meet their bottom line. Pinterest is clearly looking to shake things up, and while this can be seen as an attempt at boosting customer relations it is still a step in the right direction which others should take as well.
Read next: The United Nations Reports Catastrophe In The Near Future If Climate Change Isn’t Curbed In The Next Three Years
The company had a bit of a resurgence over the past couple of years which breathed new life into its business model, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that it is trying to get a handle on climate change misinformation in particular in order to keep its growing user base safe. Pinterest recently announced its new policy which represents an outright ban on any misinformation concerning climate change, making it the first major tech company to do anything of this sort.
It’s important that people can rely on our platform to find accurate inspiration from trusted sources, to help build a sustainable life you love. https://t.co/PJJ2iSsYRk pic.twitter.com/FFj9QL3zKL
— Pinterest (@Pinterest) April 6, 2022
Pinterest will now take down posts and other content on the site which references climate change denial or goes against the scientific consensus regarding the reality of an impending climate crisis. Such a step is vital because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making Pinterest one of the only places where the right information can be presented to its users, and other platforms might be forced to follow suit because of the presence that has been set by this new policy.
Another thing to note about this policy is that it applies to ads as well as regular posts. That’s important since many platforms, with Facebook being a particularly egregious example, seem more than happy to let misinformation spread through ads as long as it helps them meet their bottom line. Pinterest is clearly looking to shake things up, and while this can be seen as an attempt at boosting customer relations it is still a step in the right direction which others should take as well.
Read next: The United Nations Reports Catastrophe In The Near Future If Climate Change Isn’t Curbed In The Next Three Years
