Pinterest 'Thinspiration' Content Banned According To New Acceptable Use Policy

Following Tumblr's lead, Pinterest has banned all content explicitly encourage self-harm or self-abuse, namely "thinspo" pinboards.

"Thinspo" (short for "thinspiration") content consists of photos, mottos and brief notes that urge viewers to lose extreme and unhealthy amounts of weight. From posting goal weights, words of encouragement to idolizing photos of Kate Moss, Karlie Kloss and other slender figures, thinspo content is rampant online.

Tumblr, a platform designed for displaying photos, was rife with thinspo sites as young women developed a comforting, intimate pro-ana space. "Tumblr, unfortunately, is the perfect toxic expression of these [preoccupations]," body-image expert Jess Weiner, author of A Very Hungry Girl, told The Huffington Post.

So in February 2011, Tumblr moved to prohibit the unhealthy content, banning pages that actively promote self-harm such as anorexia, bulimia, self-mutilation or suicide.

Now, in response to the growth of thinspo pinborards on the site, Pinterest has released a similar policy. Making an update to its Acceptable Use Policy, Pinterest now prohibits pins that explicitly encourage self-abuse and self-harm, like anorexia and bulimia.

The policy change was just one of several Terms of Service updates made to the site -- you can read the rest here. And for some light-hearted Pinterest fun, check out our roundup of the 27 best Pinterest boards, which include pictures of animals hugging each other and pics of John Stamos from his Uncle Jesse days. You're welcome.