Every board you build is a public interest map. Your wishlist is a profile. Pinterest defaults to showing all of it to everyone — including the data harvesters. Pinterest has fewer privacy settings than most platforms. That makes it simple: whatever is available, you use all of it.
DO / DON’T
DO:
- Make boards private immediately upon creation — public boards are searchable by anyone
- Monitor what your children are looking at — Pinterest has inappropriate content that may not be flagged
- Use Two-Factor Authentication
- Keep your email up to date — Pinterest will lock your account and send a new password to your email on file if suspicious activity is detected
DON’T:
- Put personal information in board titles — titles reveal more than you’d think. A board titled “Baby Names 2025” or “New House Ideas” tells anyone looking whether you have children, whether you rent or own, your relationship status. That’s a profile.
Profile Settings
Path: PC > bottom left > Settings (Gear icon) > Edit Profile
- Avoid using your full name as your Username — use a partial name or nickname
- Leave other identifying sections blank — none of them are required
- Select Done to save changes
Account Management
Path: Settings > Account management
- Review email address and password settings
- Set login options: Never log in via Facebook or Google — ensure those toggles are OFF
- Can deactivate or delete the account from this section
Linking Accounts
- Do NOT “Claim” connected Instagram, Etsy, or YouTube accounts
- Linking accounts means if one is compromised, all become vulnerable. That’s the domino.
- Remove any third-party app connections under the Apps section
Privacy & Data
Path: Settings > Privacy & data
- Leave all boxes unchecked — these allow Pinterest to personalize ads using your data
- Social Permissions: Turn OFF
- Profile visibility: Keep profile Private with Search privacy enabled
Security
Path: Settings > Security
- Two-Factor Authentication: Enable — require a code at login (new code each time)
- Connected devices → Show sessions: Review all active sessions; end any you don’t recognize or no longer use
Visible Content / Secret Boards
Everything you Pin is public by default. Everyone — not just followers — can see your profile and Pins unless you make boards Secret.
To create a Secret Board:
- Select Profile Icon (top right)
- Select “+” icon to create a new board
- Name the board, toggle “Keep this board secret” to ON
- Select Create
To change a public board to Secret:
- Open the board
- Select three dots next to the board title
- Select “Edit board”
- Scroll down → “Keep this board secret” → Done
When a board is Secret, only you can see it. To share it with specific people, invite them as Collaborators via email.
Mobile Settings
Path: Profile > Settings icon (top right)
- Edit profile and account settings — same as computer version
- Privacy & data → Store your contacts: Ensure toggle is OFF
- Verify all privacy settings match your computer settings — they don’t always auto-sync
Go through your existing boards right now and convert any public boards to Secret that don’t need to be public. Then turn on 2FA. That’s the work.