A private messaging feature has been added to Pinterest, allowing users to chat with each other in a private window while using the site.
Users can now communicate with each other by starting a conversation with a Pin and then chatting in the same way as on other text and instant messaging services.
The feature also allows group messages.
In a blog post about the company's foray into private messaging, product designer Tom Watson wrote: "Now, when someone shoots you a Pin, you'd be able to reply with a message or send a Pin back!
"We hope this will help you plan projects, swap creative ideas and share your best discoveries with each other."
The new feature is firmly geared towards the social network's user base, as the site is based around shared ideas, recipes and other creative projects. They can't, however, predict how users may end up using the private messaging service as it evolves.
"This is different from other messaging platforms because conversations are around a Pin, and are focused on planning something for the future," a spokesperson for the company wrote to press.
Pinterest is the latest in a slew of social networking sites that have launched their own private messaging features, after Facebook purchased WhatsApp for $19 million back in February.
In April, Vine debutedits own messaging tool that allows users to send short video messages to each other, as well as share them with anyone in their contacts through SMS and email. Yahoo also purchased self-destructing mobile messaging app Blink in May.
