Pinterest Now Hogging the Internet Bandwidth

I have to apply lots of filters to common internet noise on my job so that I can get down to the forensically interesting traffic. Typically I filter out facebook, netflix, software updates and lots more, but Pinterest is quickly rising up to the top of the list of things I don’t need to see.

And according to this article at Mashable, Pinterest drives more internet traffic now than YouTube, Reddit, Google+, and LinkedIn.

Pinterest is social media’s rising star — and now has the traffic stats to prove it.

The darling network of brides-to-be, fashionistas and budding bakers now beats YouTube, Reddit, Google+, LinkedIn and MySpace for percentage of total referral traffic in January, according to a Shareaholic study.

Pinterest accounted for 3.6% of referral traffic, while Twitter just barely edged ahead of the newcomer, accounting for 3.61% of referral traffic. In July 2011, Pinterest accounted for just 0.17% of referral traffic, proving the site’s blockbuster growth.

Facebook reigns king of referrals, accounting for more than one-quarter (26.4%) of traffic, 4.3% of which comes from Facebook Mobile. After Pinterest, Facebook is experiencing the most referral growth, gaining almost one percentage point in December.

This study is just about referral traffic, not total bandwidth. Netflix is still the king in that category. Don’t know what Pinterest is? Its twitter for chicks. All pictures, no words. And if you are a dude on Pinterest, I’m sure you give other guys hugs and cry at RomComs.