The news: Jack Dorsey is reviving nostalgic short-form video culture with diVine, a Vine reboot designed for authenticity at a time when AI-generated creator content is surging. The new app launched with over 100,000 restored Vine videos.
The co-founder of Block, Twitter, and Bluesky is looking to recapture social media’s early intimacy, when feeds were chronological, algorithms were transparent, and creators were human, per TechCrunch.
The creator comeback: While the throwback videos may tap into the power of nostalgia, it remains to be seen if diVine can attract enough content creators and the necessary audience to be self-sufficient.
DiVine’s biggest opportunity lies in the fatigue of AI-saturated feeds. A third (32%) of US and UK consumers agree that AI has negatively disrupted the creator economy, and only 26% prefer AI-generated content over traditional content, per Billion Dollar Boy.
Potential challenges: Vine is still owned by Twitter (now X), which retained its rights even after the app was shut down in 2017. Pushback from X-owner Elon Musk could include copyright lawsuits, or even reboot of the original Vine as an AI-first platform, essentially the antithesis of diVine.
The 6-second video length—a result of bandwidth limitations in 2012—may not be enough to push storytelling for audiences weaned on TikTok and Reels.
- While originally capped at 15 seconds, TikTok videos can be up to 10 minutes when recorded in-app (and up to 60 minutes if uploaded).
- Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts allow up to 3 minutes per video, per Sculpt.
However, diVine could appeal to those who miss the quick-hit early days of vertical videos.
What this means for brands: Vine nostalgia gives diVine an emotional head start—but survival will hinge on converting that sentiment into fresh creative momentum.
For marketers, it’s a testing ground for human-made storytelling in bite-size form. Partnering with ex-Viners, meme creators, and micro-influencers can revive the playful brevity that once defined the format.
Brands that lean into authenticity will find diVine a clean slate—one where trust and creativity drive engagement. Still, it must overcome one hurdle: persuading audiences to make room for one more app in an already-saturated attention economy.