Pinterest is a website that allows users to create their own virtual pinboards on which they can post, or “re-pin,” images from other users and categorize their interests. They share inspiring images of everything from clothing and interior design to crafts and recipes.

Journalism professor Karl Gude, who is known on campus for his interest in social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, said he recently signed up for a Pinterest as a way to keep up with “stuff on the web that’s cool.”

“Tumblr is a linear thing, Twitter is text with links, and Facebook is one-way communication,” Gude said. “(On Pinterest), you can be like, ‘I love this person’s look,’ and follow them.”

Interior design senior Brittany Bachteal, president of MSU’s Interior Design Student Organization, or IDSO, uses Pinterest on a personal and academic level. Bachteal has a virtual pinboard for her senior thesis as well as other boards for her interests, including one for what is inspiring her. Although she only has a few boards, many of her friends have 50 or more, each showcasing a different aspect of life.

“One of my girlfriends who is getting married has a bunch of pictures for her wedding on there,” Bachteal said.

Despite Pinterest having a stronger appeal to women, Gude believes the main universal draw of the site is its element of design.

“I think (Pinterest) knows its audience,” Gude said. “I think people who enjoy imagery are going to enjoy (its) beautiful interface.”

Along with Pinterest grabbing the eye of design gurus, Pinterest has brought people together through a sense of community. Bachteal said this interactivity will give the site longevity.

“It will stay around in the near future,” Bachteal said. “I don’t think it will be a crazy phenomenon.”

But social relations and policy sophomore Colin Cumming still prefers Tumblr, despite Pinterest’s raving reviews among many students. Cumming appreciates that Tumblr allows him to contribute written content as well as original photos, while Pinterest only lets users re-post others’ images.

“It’s a lame version of Tumblr,” Cumming said. “You can’t really post your own things. It’s not a blog like Tumblr.”

Others have found Pinterest to be too distracting and time-consuming.

“It’s something so mindless — you lose track of time,” Bachteal said. “I have caught myself (on Pinterest) in class, not paying attention.”

Pinterest’s recreational buzz has triggered many artists and professionals to sign up for their own profiles to help network and discover new design ideas.

“(Pinterest is) a way of expanding your exposure,” Gude said. “It’s a way to market yourself.”

IDSO has been using Pinterest as a marketing tool to reach out to professionals and alumni for its Career and Networking Fair, which will be held on Feb. 23. The organization uploaded its event poster to Pinterest to get the word out about its fair, Bachteal said.

Fava, who is webmaster of IDSO, said members already have seen significant benefits of the organization’s use of Pinterest.

“We gained about three or four new freshman (members after they began following us on Pinterest),” Fava said. “I heard people in the background of the meeting talking about (IDSO’s) Pinterest.”

Pinterest’s ability to help various people collaborate on similar interests has given users the incentive to sign up and start re-pinning, Gude said.

“It’s the best thing for visual sharing,” he said. “I wish I thought of this.”