Vine, the pioneering short-form video app that launched careers and created countless memes, is making a comeback under a new name: Divine. Backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, the revamped platform aims to offer a human-made alternative to the flood of AI-generated content online.
The Return of a Beloved Platform
Vine, which allowed users to record looping six-second videos, became a cultural phenomenon after its 2013 launch. It reached 100 million monthly active users and helped launch influencers like Logan Paul. However, after being acquired by Twitter (now X), it was shut down in 2017 due to financial struggles.
Now, Divine has relaunched in app stores with a philosophy that "creative power belongs in human hands." The app hosts 500,000 videos from the original Vine and allows new uploads, all subject to the traditional six-second limit and a strict requirement: content must be made by a human.
Fighting AI Slop
The move comes as low-quality AI-generated material becomes increasingly pervasive. Recent research found that over 20% of videos recommended by YouTube's algorithm to new users were "AI slop." Divine aims to counter this by ensuring all content is human-made. Users must record videos directly on the app or verify them using a verification tool.
Evan Henshaw-Plath, known online as Rabble, a former Twitter employee, spearheaded the project. "Divine began as a personal project to reconnect with a time when the internet felt creative, open, and unquestionably human," he said. "The app launch is less about nostalgia, and more an antidote to what social media has become."
Funding and Future Plans
Funding for Divine comes from Dorsey's non-profit fund and Other Stuff, which backs open source social media projects. Dorsey acknowledged the original Vine's business model failure, stating, "A founding principle for Divine is that creators will always be in full control of their content and followers, enabling them to create and grow their own revenue streams."
Challenges Ahead
Despite the nostalgia factor, Divine faces significant hurdles. Short-form video is now dominated by TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, which averages over 200 billion daily views. However, the project reflects regret from key parties in Vine's original sale. Founder Rus Yusupov famously tweeted after the closure: "Don't sell your company!"
Divine was initially launched to testers in November 2024 and is now open to everyone. Original Vine creators have shown interest, and the platform hopes to restore a sense of community and creativity in the social media landscape.
