Pinterest has finally added the ability to send direct messages through its mobile app and web service.
Last year the company added the ability to send pins to other people. Now, with this direct messaging capability, those people will be able to respond.
In a blog post entitled "Start a conversation about a Pin," Pinterest product designer Tom Watson explains the thinking behind this new addition.
"Every day, people send more than two million Pins," Watson reveals. "Sending a Pin is a great way to let someone know you found something they’d love. We wanted to make it easier for you to have a good old fashioned conversation about those Pins."
This seems to be bucking the current trend for so-called 'ephemeral apps' like Snapchat and Slingshot, which favour quick and disposable comments. By contrasts, Pinterest's new messaging feature is based around extended conversations on clearly defined topics and shared interests.
It's also now possible to send pins and messages to multiple people, making group trip-planning a doodle. Group chat is supported for up to 10 people, with received direct messages accessed through your notification menu.
The latest version of Pinterest, complete with direct messaging and group chat, is available to download now on iOS and Android. You can also log in through your desktop web browser and access the same function.
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