Pinterest has launched new industry-first body type technology to increase body representation on its social media platform for users living in the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, ahead of roll out to additional international markets.

The first-of-its-kind body type technology will be part of Pinterest’s suite of inclusive AI innovations, adding to its skin tone technology, and uses shape, size, and form to identify various body types in more than five billion images on the platform to increase body representation online.

Pinterest said that the technology will shape how its algorithms increase representation in search results and related feeds for women’s fashion and wedding-related content. For users searching for "date night outfits" or “autumn fashion inspiration,” they will start seeing more people of various body shapes, sizes and skin tones in fashion-related results over time, reducing the need for “plus size” qualifiers.

The technology also follows recent research from the platform that reveals that 78 percent of women believe it’s important to see relatable body types in the media to normalise differences and encourage acceptance.

On Pinterest, of those who use body-specific attributes in fashion-related searches, 52 percent are related to plus-size fashion. In the last six months, searches for “midsize body,” “curvy outfits,” and “different body types” all up.

Pinterest has launched new industry-first body type technology to increase body representation on its social media platform for users living in the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, ahead of roll out to additional international markets.

The first-of-its-kind body type technology will be part of Pinterest’s suite of inclusive AI innovations, adding to its skin tone technology, and uses shape, size, and form to identify various body types in more than five billion images on the platform to increase body representation online.

Pinterest said that the technology will shape how its algorithms increase representation in search results and related feeds for women’s fashion and wedding-related content. For users searching for "date night outfits" or “autumn fashion inspiration,” they will start seeing more people of various body shapes, sizes and skin tones in fashion-related results over time, reducing the need for “plus size” qualifiers.

The technology also follows recent research from the platform that reveals that 78 percent of women believe it’s important to see relatable body types in the media to normalise differences and encourage acceptance.

On Pinterest, of those who use body-specific attributes in fashion-related searches, 52 percent are related to plus-size fashion. In the last six months, searches for “midsize body,” “curvy outfits,” and “different body types” all up.

To support the launch, Pinterest is launching a Creator Inclusion Fund dedicated to North American creators in the plus-size community who share content related to different body types. This fund is the thirteenth instalment of Pinterest’s Creator Fund, an initiative focused on the growth and success of historically marginalised creators. Selected creators will receive expert training, resources, and financial support.

Additionally, Pinterest will be spotlighting several size-inclusive brands on Pinterest’s search landing page, across Today’s Inspiration articles and in shopping spotlights, including shoppable content from brands like Torrid, Dia & Co, and Anthropologie.