Pinterest has made a powerful decision to no longer display weight-loss ads, language, or images
The social media giant’s decision to ban the ads comes as they continue to expand current policies that prohibit body shaming.
Pinterest has also banned any references to Body Mass Index as well as any testimonials relating to weight loss, and “any products that claim weight loss through something worn or applied to the skin”.
Announcing its blanket ban on weight loss language and imagery, Pinterest stated that searches for “body-neutrality” are up five times on the platform, while searches for “stop body-shaming language” are up fives times as well.
Since sharing the news on its Instagram account, Pinterest has received a lot of praise and expressions of relief from users who say they are excited about the changes.
The company’s latest policy change was developed with guidance from the nonprofit National Eating Disorders Association, which recently said that it had seen an increase in calls to its helpline since the start of the pandemic.
A 2020 study found that subjects with eating disorders in the U.S. were concerned over “exposure to toxic social media” related to COVID-19-related weight gain. Searches for phrases such as “body neutrality” and “stop body-shaming quotes” are up more than five times since a year ago, Pinterest said.
