Pinterest has built its massive brand around its identity as a cheery, curated hub of health and wellness content — complete with a widely praised, hardline policy against medical misinformation.
But behind the scenes, Pinterest’s battle against misinformation has been just as much a fight inside the company’s own doors. A STAT investigation has found that the platform’s policy was crafted and championed by a handful of employees — largely women of color — who say they were met with pushback and apathy from co-workers and supervisors. That lack of buy-in meant the company didn’t fully defend the policy when it came under attack — which left the employees who created it vulnerable to harassment, doxxing, and other threats.
This account is based on interviews with three former employees and five outside experts who study online health misinformation. Those experts say Pinterest’s struggle is the product of a policy that was externally polished but internally marginalized. They also argue it’s a predictable result of the company’s failure to strategically protect its staff from parties spreading misinformation, something the experts described as a looming potential blind spot for all social media companies.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect