Pinterest vs Video/Photo Sites

I don’t know about you, but I have always loved YouTube, a video site that practically has any kind of music, events, and anything you can film with a video camera or even a video you created on your own.

Another site that I use most often to upload photos is Photobucket, a site that I’ve been quite loyal to for many years (since 2005 to be exact, long huh?).

So how do similar sites like Pinterest, another video/photo content sharing service become so popular to fans as well? After some investigation into my own preferences and that of others, I’ll further compare and contrast the features of Pinterest to that of YouTube and another photo site such as Flickr. I’ll be listing the similarities in a list, while I’ll contrast the differences of the sites individually.

Similarities:

- Upload photos, videos, and links

- Browse or discover other things people have put online

- Comment on other people’s sites

Overall, the basic functionalities of these sites are that you can upload, share, and discover the things that people have uploaded themselves.

Differences:

Pinterest:

- Has a “pin board”

- Layout features everything you’ve “pinned” up

- Easy for people to follow you

- No need to write blogs/messages, just simply put up things you like on your board

- Launched in 2010

YouTube:

- Mostly a video-sharing website

- Top popular website, well-known and used internationally

- Big social impact, people are “discovered” through this site, some become famous

- Owned by Google (also widely known, search engine most popular)

- Launched in 2005

Flickr:

- One of the best online photo sharing management and application

- Can control public viewing of materials

- Owned by Yahoo (has less visitors than Google)

- Launched in 2004

For more information on these sites, please visit the following wiki pages:

Pinterest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinterest

YouTube: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube

Flickr: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flickr

These sites are very much different. Seemingly, however, Pinterest has managed to pick up many users and fans. The reason? Not a difficult one… I can conclude that it is purely preference and what a user wants to accomplish through using a site. Although there are striking similarities and a wide range of differences across these services, each and every one of them does its own thing. Pinterest, with its engaging pin board and easy-to-share content, allures and encourages users to express what they love. This being the ultimately reason for its success; the site as a whole is a way of expression and way to share with public who someone is based on their likings.

I mean who doesn’t want to be able to express their love for art and dogs? :)