We’re Already Showing Interest in Pinterest. Is it the Next Facebook? [VIDEO]

MySpace got social networking started for most, until Facebook came along and rendered it pointless. Facebook is the social network everyone and their grandmother is using now. But if and when the fascination with Facebook dies down, will the popularity of social network sites just die down with it, or will there be another to step in and take its place?

Some believe Twitter will continue to grow in popularity, since it seems to be the network of choice of the stars. Others have assumed that Google Plus will move in and take a good share of social networkers. But there’s another player:  Pinterest.

It’s a different way to social network(so was Facebook, compared to MySpace). And I found out that several people I work with are already signed up. Do you know about this social network?

Here’s how it works. Basically, when people browse the internet and find a photo or something they like, they can “pin” it to their page. These pins can be organized and categorized in just about any way you want. For instance, say you’re planning meals for your family for the week. You can search all your favorite recipe websites, find the meals and recipes you’re interested in, and “pin” them to your profile. You can also look at what others are pinning to their profile, and either “like”, “comment” or “repin” things you like to your page. Here’s a video tutorial for your viewing pleasure:

In a sentence, Pinterest is a collection of things that catch your eye when trolling the internet.

Pinterest has a specific mission:

“Our goal is to connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting. We think that a favorite book, toy, or recipe can reveal a common link between two people. With millions of new pins added every week, Pinterest is connecting people all over the world based on shared tastes and interests.”

source: Pinterest.com/about

Pinterest has already won an award for Best New Startup in the 5th Annual Crunchies (The Oscars for technology) in January. But does Pinterest have what it takes to attract mass interest like Facebook? That remains to be seen.

A major drawback could be with Pinterest members infringing on photograph copyrights by posting photos without permission. There is already a “Copyright/Trademark” page on the Pinterest website, instructing members to abide by copyright laws and report those who don’t. Maybe this helps protect Pinterest from potential lawsuits, but I’m curious to see if there will be lawsuits brought against members down the road.

Facebook, as you may know, has evolved into a virtual storage shed for pictures, videos, thoughts, opinions, and various other favorite things. It’s also a place people go to see what friends and family are up to. While Facebook doesn’t seem to have any reason to believe it will be obsolete anytime soon, neither did MySpace.

Do you have a Pinterest account? Do you think you would ditch your Facebook page for it?