Pinterest has introduced a new initiative called Creator Code, which asks content creators to accept certain guidelines to ensure a decrease in negative content on the platform. The initiative has been in the works since 2020 and aims to protect communities from cancel culture and misinformation surrounding health and political news.
The Creator Code will make sure that creators adhere to five crucial guidelines before they post content on the platform. This includes posting: content containing accurate factual information, content that does not insult or demotivate users, content that has trigger warnings added, content that promotes inclusivity and content that does not cause harm to the community.
Meet the Creator Code: a commitment to making inclusive and inspiring content. Because it’s hard to be yourself when you’re surrounded by judgment and comparison.
See how we’re building a kinder internet at https://t.co/H2INtINa7F pic.twitter.com/NzZEQobj4X
— Pinterest (@Pinterest) April 7, 2021
Evan Sharp – Co-Founder, Chief Designer and Creative Officer at Pinterest – stressed on Pinterest’s vision to provide a positive and inclusive platform for users and how it’s one of the few remaining social media platforms that consistently aims to foster a positive environment:
“We’ve been building Pinterest for 11 years, and ever since our users routinely tell us that Pinterest is the ‘last positive corner of the internet’. In that time, we’ve also learned that you need to design positivity into online platforms as deliberately as much as you design negativity out. The Creator Code is a human-centric way for Creators to understand how to be successful on Pinterest while using their voice to keep Pinterest positive and inclusive”.
In addition to this, Pinterest has developed new moderation tools and a Creator fund. The moderation tools will spread positivity by displaying reminders if the content to be posted is insensitive and will also prevent spam on creator posts by using AI-technology. Moreover, the moderation tools will help creators remove certain comments, filter keywords and pin comments that provide positive feedback.
Pinterest’s first-ever Creator Fund is currently limited to the United States and will act as a means to support creators on the platform. Pinterest revealed that the new program will empower underrepresented communities in multiple industries – including fashion, photography, travel and food. The fund will also help diverse communities and ensure that 50% of its representation is from underrepresented creators.