Pinterest began in March 2010, founded by Ben Silbermann, Evan Sharp, and Paul Sciarra. The idea stemmed from Silbermann’s personal interests and his desire to create a visual bookmarking tool. Initially, it was an invitation-only platform, allowing users to curate and share images they found online.

The name "Pinterest" is a combination of "pin" (as in pinning images to a board) and "interest," reflecting the platform’s purpose of discovering and saving creative ideas. It quickly gained popularity, appealing to users looking for inspiration in areas like fashion, home decor, cooking, and more. By focusing on visuals and user engagement, Pinterest carved out a unique niche in the social media landscape.