repins

Repins is a term used on Pinterest to describe the act of saving someone else’s pin to one’s own board, effectively sharing the content within the Pinterest network. The plural form repins can refer to the action itself or to the number of times a pin has been repinned.

How it works: When viewing a pin, a user can click the Repin button, select a destination board, and optionally add a note. The resulting repin links back to the original pin and source, while appearing on the user’s board as a new pin. The original pin’s repins count increases, reflecting indirect reach regardless of the board it lands on.

Purpose and use: Repinning serves curation and discovery, allowing users to organize content around themes and interests. For content creators and marketers, a high repins count can indicate engagement and visibility, potentially driving traffic to the source and increasing exposure.

Limitations and considerations: Repins are subject to Pinterest's terms of service. Attribution remains to the original source; the repin does not create a new image file but a linked pin. Some content may be restricted by copyright, or by privacy or setting restrictions; platforms may alter how repins are displayed or counted over time.

History and context: Repinning was a core feature of Pinterest, introduced with the platform’s pin-based social graph in its early years (launched 2010). The term repin is used within Pinterest's own interface and community.