This post is a work in process where I document the details about how Blogspot/Blogger is being used to game Pinterest’s system.
This is not going to be perfect, but to keep other articles from being dominated by an explanation as to why Blogspot is a problem for Pinterest and Google, I am going to put the deeper definition here, and expand upon my experience.
Blogspot is an Evasion Tool to Get Around Pinterest’s Domain Bans
As of this posting, I have filed copyright/trademark claims against 9,447 images since June 2024, with 6,521 (69.05%) involving outgoing Blogspot URLs. The actual number is higher because my database was corrupted, and I am missing most claims filed before October 26, 2024, Before that date, I only have some from June 2024. I am currently in the process of rebuilding my records all the way back to 2020.
Here’s what I know so far:
Every claim involving a Blogspot URL I have clicked on redirects to another site instead of staying on the Blogspot account. Likely to get around Pinterest’s domain blocks.
Here’s what I know so far:
- Every claim involving a Blogspot URL I have clicked on redirects to another site instead of staying on the Blogspot account. Likely to get around Pinterest’s domain blocks.
- Often, these Blogspot URLs lead to malware and other malicious content, which is why I avoid clicking them.
- They alter the stolen pins by adding a play button, sometimes rotating, shifting, or cropping the original image. They may also add other non-functioning elements like a volume control or even a TikTok logo.
- I have identified multiple accounts that send traffic to the same domain through different Blogspot accounts, but documenting them is difficult due to the risk of malware.
- Most of what I have clicked on redirects to ideasthings.com. As of today I have filed complaints with Cloudflair & Hostinger. Among other parties.
- For some reason, these accounts are harder to file Copyright claims against, but Trademark requests seem to be effective (so far—that could change).
- Pinterest rarely marks these URLs as low quality, meaning you have to click on “…” to visit them manually.
- Pinterest can detect redirects and shuts down ads when that happens. I know this because Google tested Vignette ads on 50% of my audience without my permission or notification (and NO, they do nothing to enhance audience experience)—and Pinterest flagged my ads under a vague policy violation. After disabling that AdSense ad unit, I was able to restart ads. I also made sure that links I advertised had no ads (which might not make sense if you think I was hoping for ad clicks on AdSense, but that was not my goal).
You would think a company built around images would have detected fake play buttons before Facebook did in 2017.
Even if the malware risk wasn’t an issue, the sheer volume of these claims makes tracking them exhausting. But the play button trick actually makes them easier to find.
I think I know why they do this—despite knowing the fake play button won’t take users to click directly to their sites, it tricks Pinterest’s system into registering as positive engagement when people click and are taken to the pin’s page instead.
Even if the malware risk wasn’t an issue, the sheer volume of these claims makes tracking them exhausting. But the play button trick actually makes them easier to find.
I think I know why they do this—despite knowing the fake play button won’t take users to click directly to their sites, it tricks Pinterest’s system into registering as positive engagement when people click and are taken to the pin’s page instead.
I also believe Pinterest’s copyright process is largely automated, and this manipulated engagement might factor into how claims are handled. (More on that at a later date.)
How I learned that Blogspot was a domain ban evasion tactic
Back in May 2024, we uncovered a network on Pinterest I call The Insurancemattersblog Network, named after the domain these accounts were directing traffic to with stolen content. That website was hosting malware. Throughout May and June 2024, I filed over a thousand DMCA claims against this network. Constantly reminding Pinterest what the accounts were doing. I even recorded what happened when you visited.
Note: all of the ads that appear under the stolen content:
Despite providing Pinterest with evidence, including documentation that the website contained malware, they were slow to act. It took around 1000 DMCA claims against 15
While they eventually banned the domain, most of the accounts linked to it were left untouched—and many are still active today. To circumvent the domain ban, these accounts began redirecting traffic through Blogspot URLs. This forced me to file even more claims.
I’ve been aware of Blogspot being a problem on Pinterest since 2020, as the majority of my DMCA claims have involved Blogspot URLs. However, it wasn’t until the Insurancemattersblog.com incident in 2024 that I realized how Blogspot was being used as a redirection tool to circumvent domain bans. Since then, it’s become clear that nearly all accounts with outgoing Blogspot URLs are part of redirection schemes, something Pinterest has been made aware of repeatedly.
What makes these fraudulent pins so easy to identify is the tactic they use to mislead users. The stolen content is modified to include fake play buttons, TikTok logos, sound controls, and time stamps, making it appear as though the pins lead to playable videos.
Users are likely to encounter these altered pins in their feed—or worse, Pinterest may recommend them. Clicking on the pin brings them to the pin’s page. At this point, clicking the fake play button does nothing. To follow the link, the user must click at the bottom of the pin, where the outgoing URL is.
We believe Pinterest favors this specific user interaction as a metric of engagement, using it to prioritize pins with high activity rather than verifying if the content is legitimate. By focusing on these metrics, Pinterest allows stolen content to persist while benefiting from the ad revenue generated by users engaging with the pin’s page.
Why would Pinterest allow this? The answer appears to be simple: ad revenue. Misleading designs encourage users to click through to the pin page, where advertisements are displayed. This delay in action benefits Pinterest financially, while legitimate creators and users suffer.
Since Pinterest suspended my accounts and placed them “under review” with no estimated date for resolution, they’ve effectively tied my hands in addressing infringement. It took little for them to shut down my accounts, even though there was no proof of spam or any wrongdoing on my part. Yet, when faced with hundreds of claims against the same infringing domain—often involving multiple fraudulent accounts—Pinterest takes no action.
This stark imbalance highlights a platform where it’s easy to penalize legitimate creators without cause, but nearly impossible to address systematic abuse. What becomes glaringly clear is that Pinterest has no genuine concern for tackling real scams or supporting creators. Their actions—and inactions—show a platform more focused on protecting its metrics than addressing fraud or ensuring user safety.