Pinterest be going wild with the ban hammer lately, suspending accounts left and right without a care in the world. Thousands of users worldwide have been scratching their heads as they discover their accounts mysteriously suspended in the past couple of weeks. And the kicker? Most of them have no clue why.
All over social media, folks are airing their grievances after finding out that their innocent knitting patterns, Minecraft creations, and even grandma’s famous fruitcake recipe have apparently violated some obscure community standards. Pinterest is staying mum on the matter, but customer service reps are apparently drowning in appeals.
The sudden surge in suspensions has left many tech experts scratching their heads, pointing fingers at a classic case of AI moderation gone haywire instead of a deliberate crackdown. This isn’t the first time Pinterest has had a meltdown like this – back in 2021, they blamed a similar mess on a glitch in the system.
Users are reporting that Pinterest is axing a surprising number of pins for reasons that make little to no sense. Quilting magazines, cross-stitch art, and even Minecraft bunk bed designs are being flagged as ‘adult content.’ One Reddit user lamented, “I got suspended out of the blue, and I have no idea why! I only save stuff related to makeup, hair, fashion, and beauty – nothing that should get me banned!”
Can you get your suspended account back, though? Pinterest does offer a way to appeal the suspension, but word on the street is that they’re swamped with requests. Some users are speculating that an automated moderation system might be behind the spike in suspensions and pin deletions.
After getting grilled by Mashable, Pinterest finally broke their silence on X. Unfortunately, their statement didn’t do much to soothe the frustrated users. “We hear your concerns about recent account deactivations on Pinterest,” they tweeted. “To ensure Pinterest remains a safe and positive platform, we continuously monitor for content that violates our Community Guidelines and may deactivate accounts as a result. If you think we goofed, hit us up @askpinterest.”
Unsurprisingly, Pinterest’s response didn’t sit well with the disgruntled users, especially those who’ve had little luck with their appeals. Many are calling for Pinterest to ditch or overhaul their automated moderation system entirely.
Some folks are even talking about taking legal action. One Reddit user floated the idea of a class action lawsuit, pointing out that users might have lost income from ad campaigns or personal collections with irreplaceable items. “Pinterest markets itself as a hub for saving ideas, preserving memories, and doing business – things that users put a lot of time and trust into,” they wrote. “But the recent mass suspensions without recourse don’t jive with that image.”
Several users are showing interest in joining the potential legal battle, citing more than just lost images as consequences of the bans. “As a photographer, losing my mood boards has thrown a wrench in my projects,” one user shared. “Years of work down the drain, and projects stuck in limbo.”
Until Pinterest gets its act together, maybe it’s time to start taking screenshots of your favorite pins. Or heck, go old school and tear pages out of magazines for your scrapbook. At least your scrapbook won’t decide your DIY plant hanger is too scandalous for the public eye.
