Pinterest isn’t blacking out to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) or Protect IP Act (PIPA). But that doesn’t mean you can’t use the platform to make an anti-SOPA statement.
In fact, it’s so easy that you won’t be alone.
Users can create their own Pinterest blackouts using the image sharing platform’s unique bulletin board structure. Simply create a new blank pinboard dedicated to SOPA.
Instead of pinning colorful (and possibly SOPA-violating) images, upload blank, black squares, infographics, and information about the bill. At this point, uploading images may be unnecessary; users can simply repin—that’s reblogging on Pinterest —images from other anti-SOPA boards.
Pinterest has yet to come forward with an official statement about their stance on the bill and could not be reached for comment. Some users continue to ask for a statement on the platform’s Facebook page. However, Pinterest’s official Twitter account updated its profile picture with a “STOP SOPA” banner on Jan. 13.
Len Kendall, director of digital at public relations firm Golin Harris and Pinterest user, was the first user to create an anti-SOPA pinboard on Pinterest, according to Mashable. One of his “censored” photos has been repinned 146 times. He told the site that he hadn’t seen any other Pinterest users making a similar statement (though we now know otherwise).
Kendall tweeted his surprise that the platform, which thrives on sharing copyrighted images, isn’t doing more:
“I’m surprised @Pinterest isn’t getting behind blackout day,” he wrote. “ I’d say the majority of their site would be in violation.”
Photo by Pinterest