Cameron Steel
Pinterest released a comprehensive report on Tuesday that delves into the ways teenagers engage with the platform and how its intentional focus on user wellbeing has fostered more uplifting experiences among its younger audience.
This report builds on Pinterest’s initiative to enhance online discovery and offline engagement, positioning the platform as a beneficial contributor to real-life social interactions rather than a mere distraction that keeps users endlessly scrolling.
Pinterest articulates its mission: “We believe that the best finds online should inspire you to take action offline. As a visual search and discovery platform, users come to Pinterest seeking ideas for what to do, create, or try next. This is particularly true for the teens who engage with Pinterest daily.”
Pinterest highlighted that its younger users are more active than ever on the app, drawing inspiration from Pins and utilizing the platform to curate ideas through saves and in-stream searches.
“Over 77% of active teen users utilize the Pinterest search bar to actively explore their interests. Teens engage with their settings and home feed controls at nearly double the rate of other demographics,” Pinterest stated. “Our platform makes it simple for users to refine their recommendations, allowing teens to tailor their experiences as rapidly as their interests evolve.”
Regarding search trends, Pinterest reported that teens are particularly interested in artistic inspiration, with this demographic engaging in art-related searches at a rate 1.26 times higher than other age groups.
Some of the most prominent search topics among teenagers include<span><span> </span></span>drawing references, anime styles, sketch tutorials, wallpaper ideas, and bedroom décor, all underscoring the platform’s role in discovering offline projects.
To further support its young user base, Pinterest announced plans to extend its distraction-free school reminders to over 30 countries.
Initiated in April 2025, Pinterest’s school hours notifications prompt young users to set their devices aside during the day.
Pinterest has reported that these reminders have reached 4.5 million teens across the U.S., Canada, France, the U.K., Germany, and Brazil.
Pinterest is also enhancing its (Me)dia Mindfulness resource hub, aimed at equipping both teens and adults with essential digital literacy skills. The platform is launching a new trauma-informed wellbeing space named<span><span> </span></span>“Protect Your Energy,” which the company states will link “patterns of digital consumption to mental, emotional, and physical health.”
Pinterest is also increasing its philanthropic contributions to numerous youth mental health initiatives and aims to assist U.S.-based students in connecting to mental health resources through their schools.
In many respects, Pinterest’s report appears to subtly critique Meta, which is currently under scrutiny for its perceived shortcomings in safeguarding young users.
Pinterest seems to be seizing the chance to redirect any criticisms of harmful social media practices onto competing platforms by promoting its service as a positive environment for youth.
“Pinterest is not a social media platform that entraps users in an endless cycle,” the company stated. “Instead, teens report that they save Pins with intention. They log in, discover what they seek, and log off to bring those ideas to life. As a result, they spend less time on Pinterest weekly compared to other digital platforms.”
Emphasizing that users engage with its app less frequently, and are consequently exposed to fewer ads, may pose challenges for a platform that relies on advertising revenue. Nonetheless, Pinterest clearly views this as a significant angle for its marketing strategy.
Tessa Everly
Mason Thompson
