Honestly, I think I prefer not having access to something like Pinterest[1] which lets you have some access for a bit and then as soon as you try to interact with the site in any meaningful way (usually to leave it) they insist you sign in.
At least with this I know the expectation up front, rather than having it sprung on me by surprise.
[1] I've avoided Pinterest for awhile that this may not be the way they attempt to capture accounts any more.
Pinterest is awful in this regard but what makes it even worse is that so many other sites followed in their footsteps. I know why, I just dont like the process or the idea of having to offer up my info and "join a club" before I've even set foot in the door or peeked around a little.
Instagram does exactly this. You can interact with it's site via browser and open a few links until shows a popup saying you have to login (which you can't close).
Or used to be? What I reported is a change in this behavior. It doesn't allow someone browse those few photos and videos before shows a popup asking for a login.
My disdain for Pinterest is at unrecoverable levels because of this and the fact they display interesting photos without any details or source listed even if logged in. I often wonder the difference between people that become antagonistic for being forced to signup vs people that are persuaded.
Pinterest is the worst thing on the web. I do not understand why google puts pinterest links as the top search results constantly, even though it is a completely shallow and pointless page that merely obfuscates the content I would actually want to see from some other site. Why would i want to see what is effectively a notice of someone saying they like a webpage, rather than the webpage? And considering google claimed they would penalize sites for giving one set of content to googlebot and something else completely to users, pinterest shouldn't be in search results at all.
I wonder why rights holders don’t issue takedowns to Pinterest for their google results. Usually the image only supports Pinterest as a way to try to get someone to sign up. There are no links through to the creator
Edit: takedowns to google for Pinterest google results.
At least with this I know the expectation up front, rather than having it sprung on me by surprise.
[1] I've avoided Pinterest for awhile that this may not be the way they attempt to capture accounts any more.