• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechPinterest

Pinterest Says It’s Using A.I. to Dramatically Reduce the Amount of Self-Harm Posts Users Are Seeing

By
Lisa Marie Segarra
Lisa Marie Segarra
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Lisa Marie Segarra
Lisa Marie Segarra
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 10, 2019, 6:39 PM ET

When people think of Pinterest, crafts and fashion posts are often what comes to mind. But like many parts of the internet, underneath the surface of the social media site, there’s a darker side. And the company is working on removing it.

According to an announcement made by the company on Thursday, Pinterest says it has used machine learning to see a 88% reduction in reports of self-harm posts, a feat that other social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have struggled with.

Self-harm posts are an issue that Pinterest has prioritized in recent months. Earlier this year, the social network updated its self-harm policy, with guidance informed by suicide prevention charity Samaritans, that broadened the definition of what types of posts are not allowed, as well as gave the site more control over the types of posts it would either remove or hide from other users. Pinterest posts that display harmful text or images can be triggering for people who are struggling with self-injurious behavior.

To combat the issue, Pinterest used machine learning strategies that can automatically detect and hide content that involves self harm and mutilation.

The company also took additional measures to make its platform better for users struggling with mental illness or harmful thoughts. For instance, it’s made the Suicide Prevention Hotline readily available on the app and website through the Pinterest Help Center, removed self injury-related recommendations, and made it easier to find healthy activities and information on the platform. Browsing the term “#pinterestwellbeing” will soon come to U.S. users, and will bring up recommendations for emotionally healthy activities. The suggestions come from collaborative work with Brainstorm: the Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, Vibrant Emotional Health, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Information from the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics are also available on Pinterest.

In an announcement of similar measures released earlier this year, Pinterest project Manager Annie Ta noted that user activity regarding such features are private, so people don’t have to worry about their potential struggles becoming public to other users, or being used in targeted ads.

Pinterest’s success comes after other social media sites have been criticized for not removing harmful content quickly enough. Other social networks like Instagram and Facebook have still yet to see even similar measures of success, though they operate on a larger scale. Both have tried systematically removing self-harm posts, but have not reported the kinds of success metrics that Pinterest has revealed.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Apple CEO Tim Cook has plenty to say as new hardware looms
—How Russian PR firms plant stories for companies in U.K. news outlets, social media
—Behind the ouster of eBay’s CEO? A trend every tech company should pay attention to
—From porn to scams, deepfakes are unnerving business leaders and lawmakers
—Why Apple is offering cheaper streaming and iPhones
Catch up with Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily digest on the business of tech.

About the Author
By Lisa Marie Segarra
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

mark
CommentaryJobs
I lost my job to AI. Here’s why mass layoffs won’t transform your company
By Mark QuinnApril 25, 2026
1 hour ago
Late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs
SuccessCareers
Apple’s Steve Jobs told students to never ‘settle’ in their careers: ‘If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking’
By Emma BurleighApril 25, 2026
2 hours ago
A teen boy lays on a bed looking at his phone.
LawSocial Media
Most Australian teens admit the social media ban isn’t working as they try to sidestep age verification blocks with face masks and their parents’ IDs
By Sasha RogelbergApril 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Man with dark hard and a suit
CybersecurityTech
North Korean IT workers are stealing remote jobs and raking in billions—and Americans are helping them do it
By Amanda GerutApril 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Duke Energy trucks amassed in January at the Charlotte Motor Speedway to help restore power after Winter Storm Fern.
EnergyUtilities
Utility giant Duke Energy plans to spend industry record $103 billion on growth as data centers and affordability take center stage
By Jordan BlumApril 25, 2026
5 hours ago
Ron Schneidermann
SuccessCareers
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
By Preston ForeApril 25, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
Success
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
By Emma BurleighApril 23, 2026
2 days ago
When interest on national debt overtook military spending, it triggered a limit where the U.S. may ‘cease to be a great power,’ warns Hoover historian
Economy
When interest on national debt overtook military spending, it triggered a limit where the U.S. may ‘cease to be a great power,’ warns Hoover historian
By Eleanor PringleApril 23, 2026
2 days ago
This is a ‘come to Jesus moment’: Ford CEO says American carmakers are battling a perfect storm
C-Suite
This is a ‘come to Jesus moment’: Ford CEO says American carmakers are battling a perfect storm
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 24, 2026
18 hours ago
‘Don’t leave’: Jensen Huang challenges billionaire class as he insists ‘highest taxes in the world’ are OK with him
Big Tech
‘Don’t leave’: Jensen Huang challenges billionaire class as he insists ‘highest taxes in the world’ are OK with him
By Jacqueline MunisApril 23, 2026
2 days ago
The longevity revolution is here. Our systems still think we die at 65
Commentary
The longevity revolution is here. Our systems still think we die at 65
By Ken DychtwaldApril 23, 2026
2 days ago
With entry-level jobs vanishing, Gen Z grads are ditching corporate America—piecing together careers with entrepreneurship, gig work and freelancing
Success
With entry-level jobs vanishing, Gen Z grads are ditching corporate America—piecing together careers with entrepreneurship, gig work and freelancing
By Jake AngeloApril 24, 2026
20 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.