What Does Pinterest Say About Royal Oak?

Royal Oak residents and businesses are diving quickly into another social networking site called Pinterest.

Pinterest is only 2 years old, but it's already one of the Top 10 social networking sites in the country.

Even if you're already pinning away, you might not know that Pinterest is a great way to see what people are saying (and pinning) about your hometown.

Pinterest describes itself as a way to let you "share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes." Technically, you must be invited to participate, but it's easy to request an invite.

A recent USA Today article declares: "If you haven't heard of it, find the nearest twenty- or thirty something woman. She'll likely know what's up and can tell you all about it. If she can stop pinning."

A quick search on Pinterest for Royal Oak turns up a series of photos that includes a photo of Cafe Muse (just voted Best Breakfast in Royal Oak) under Great Places to Eat; a photo of downtown; a kitchen featuring Pewabic tiles; and fun photos from Funky 7 clothing and accessories store on Main Street, pinned on Favorite Local Finds by user Tiffany Reynolds.

There are also photos of Paris boutique and Haberman Fabrics ("awesome fabric store in Royal Oak" says user Daniel Huyberts).

Many towns in Michigan aren't yet represented on Pinterest, but it's clear Royal Oak residents and businesses are as wired as usual and ahead of the social media curve.

Huffington Post blogger Biana Bosker speculates that Pinterest's success relates to Facebook and Twitter fatigue about the minutiae of each other's lives. Pinterest, she says, allows users to share beautiful images and ideas to which they aspire, rather than to talk about how much they need another cup of coffee.

"Pinterest's recent success, which flies in the face of so much speculation about social media fatigue and information overload, holds an important lesson: It's not social media we're frustrated with," Bosker says. "It's with one another."