Divine launches as Jack Dorsey-backed platform to revive Vine's six-second video format

Divine, a new application designed to resurrect the six-second looping video format of the original Vine service, has officially launched to the public. The app is now available for download on the App Store, Google Play, and the Nostr-powered Zapstore. Backed by Jack Dorsey's nonprofit "and Other Stuff," the platform currently hosts approximately 500,000 restored original Vine videos and enables creators to post new content.

The restoration of the extensive archive involved significant technical effort, with Evan Henshaw-Plath, known online as "Rabble," writing complex big data scripts to reconstruct binary files and associated engagement metrics from the Archive Team's backups. While not every piece of data was recoverable, the effort has successfully brought nearly 100,000 original Vine creators back into the fold. Early input from legendary figures such as Lele Pons, JimmyHere, and MightyDuck influenced the development, with the team delaying the launch to prioritise design and functionality over a rushed release.

A defining feature of Divine is its explicit commitment to filtering out AI-generated content, a move described by the developers as a necessary step to prevent "AI slop." To maintain this standard, the application requires users to record videos directly within the app or verify uploads via the C2PA standard, an open industry protocol that establishes the origin and edits of digital content. This approach ensures that the network remains free of content generated without human input.

Beyond the nostalgic appeal of the original format, Divine includes a compilation mode that allows users to create hashtag-based streams of videos, reflecting the experience of the generation that grew up with the platform. Users can visit a hashtag, such as #cats, to watch an autoplaying stream of matching clips, with the ability to stop the stream to interact with the content through reposts or likes. This feature aims to replicate the organic discovery mechanisms that defined the original service.

The platform is structured as a public benefit corporation with no current revenue model, distinguishing it from traditional commercial social media ventures. While it explores potential future monetisation through Patreon-style direct creator support or Pro accounts, the immediate focus remains on popularising open protocols. Divine is built on the open social protocol Nostr and aims to integrate the AT Protocol, which powers Bluesky, with potential future connections to the ActivityPub protocol used by networks like Mastodon.

Jack Dorsey's backing of the project is framed as a corrective measure for his previous decision to shut down Vine while serving as CEO of Twitter. Rather than seeking a financial return, the nonprofit aims to fund experimental open-source projects that could transform the social media landscape. The app is available free of charge, with initial access restricted to a waitlist and invite codes before a broader rollout is expected.