Vine is back, rebooted as diVine, funded by Twitters Jack Dorsey
In a surprising turn of events, the beloved short-video platform Vine is making a comeback—sort of. On Thursday, a new platform called diVine was launched, backed by “And Other Stuff,” a nonprofit collective led by none other than Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter who originally shuttered Vine in 2016. diVine aims to recapture the essence of Vine’s six-second videos, offering users access to a treasure trove of over 100,000 archived Vine clips. The platform’s tagline emphasizes its commitment to “raw, unfiltered creativity,” inviting users to share genuine moments in concise loops reminiscent of the original Vine experience. This nostalgic revival comes at a time when TikTok, often seen as Vine’s spiritual successor, has dominated the short-form video landscape, making diVine’s timing both strategic and intriguing.
What sets diVine apart from its predecessors is its dedication to a decentralized model, which is designed to empower users rather than corporate interests. According to Evan Henshaw-Plath, who leads the project, diVine aims to create a space where users have control over their content and algorithms. This vision harkens back to an earlier era of social media, where authenticity and personal connection were paramount. Furthermore, diVine has taken a firm stance against AI-generated content, promising a platform where only human creativity is showcased. In a world increasingly saturated with AI-generated media, diVine’s commitment to maintaining a human touch could resonate with users seeking authenticity in their online interactions. The combination of nostalgia, user empowerment, and a focus on genuine content could position diVine as a refreshing alternative in the evolving landscape of social media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb5tgKR_akU
What’s old is new again —
Vine
is back.
Well, kind of. And Other Stuff,
a nonprofit
collective run by Jack Dorsey — yes, the Twitter founder
who originally killed Vine
— financed diVine, which launched Thursday. It has very similar branding to Vine, is focused on six-second videos, and will feature archived, old Vines. TechCrunch, which spoke with the company,
reported diVine users
will have access to over 100,000 archived Vine videos.
Here’s what
diVine’s site
says:
“Experience the raw, unfiltered creativity of real people sharing genuine moments in 6-second loops. Built on decentralized technology, owned by no one, controlled by everyone.”
It tracks that someone would try to reboot Vine, considering the massive success of
TikTok
, which feels like its spiritual successor. Elon Musk, in fact,
has threatened to reboot
Vine in the past.
Besides rebooting the six-second concept and relying on open-source tech, diVine has another interesting core promise: no AI. In a time of increasing AI slop, diVine will not allow — and will prevent the posting of — AI-generated content.
SEE ALSO:
Vine is dead. Let’s keep it that way.
“So basically, I’m like, can we do something that’s kind of nostalgic?” Evan Henshaw-Plath, the person leading the project,
told TechCrunch
. “Can we do something that takes us back, that lets us see those old things, but also lets us see an era of social media where you could either have control of your algorithms, or you could choose who you follow, and it’s just your feed, and where you know that it’s a real person that recorded the video?”
