TL;DR:
- Pinterest introduced a new tool that allows users to filter searches by different body types.
- Initial focus on women’s fashion and wedding ideas.
- Leveraging advanced AI and computer vision technology for body type identification.
- This is a response to growing concerns about body size discrimination and body dissatisfaction, especially among young people.
- Pinterest aims to address the impact of social media on body image issues and potential regulatory actions.
- The platform has improved the representation of various body types by 5x in women’s fashion searches.
- The new feature is expected to increase user engagement, similar to the skin tone range filter’s success.
- Pinterest’s Chief of Product emphasizes the company’s commitment to a more positive and inclusive online experience.
Main AI News:
In a bid to enhance inclusivity and diversity on its platform, Pinterest is taking a step forward by introducing a new consumer-facing tool. This tool empowers users to filter their searches based on different body types, initially focusing on women’s fashion and wedding ideas. This development builds upon Pinterest’s cutting-edge body type technology, which leverages computer vision to identify various body shapes, sizes, and forms within its vast repository of over 5 billion images. This technology forms the foundation of the new front-end feature aimed at making search results more inclusive and combating the detrimental effects of body size discrimination.
Backed by AI, Pinterest’s innovative approach is driven by a commitment to addressing the pervasive issue of body dissatisfaction, especially among young people. Megan D’Alessio, former manager of inclusion and diversity at Pinterest, emphasized the alarming statistics: “50% of adolescent girls are unhappy with their bodies compared to 31% of boys.” Such concerns have been at the center of recent debates around the negative impacts of social media, as highlighted by whistleblower Frances Haugen’s revelations about Instagram’s role in exacerbating body image issues among teen girls.
Recognizing the potential need for regulations regarding social media’s influence on body image, Pinterest proactively developed technology to better represent diverse body types on its platform. By incorporating this body type technology into its suite of “inclusive AI” efforts, which also includes skin tone ranges and hair pattern search filters, Pinterest has boosted the representation of various body types in women’s fashion-related searches in the U.S. by fivefold.
The rollout of the ‘Body Type Ranges’ search tool is now underway for Pinterest users, enabling them to search for women’s fashion and wedding inspiration and refine their results based on body types. Pinterest expects this feature not only to enhance search result diversity but also to drive greater user engagement. For instance, when Pinterest introduced the skin tone range filter in several countries, it witnessed a remarkable 70% year-over-year increase in users saving Pins from various skin tone ranges in their feeds.
Sabrina Ellis, Pinterest’s Chief of Product, expressed the company’s commitment to fostering a more positive internet through these developments. She noted, “We are still at the early stages of testing and look forward to sharing additional learnings and details soon.” Pinterest’s dedication to inclusivity and its proactive efforts to create a more personalized and inclusive user experience is evident in this latest move.
Conclusion:
Pinterest’s introduction of the ‘Body Type Ranges’ tool signifies a strategic move towards inclusivity and diversity, responding to societal concerns about body image and discrimination. By leveraging advanced AI and computer vision, Pinterest aims to proactively address these issues and enhance user engagement on its platform. This development reflects a broader trend in the market where tech companies prioritize social responsibility and user well-being.
