Vine’s six-second loops are getting a second life. A new app called diVine is reviving the spirit of the original platform with a vast archive of classic clips and a strong stance against AI-generated content. Backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey through his nonprofit, and Other Stuff, diVine is designed to bring back the human, playful energy of early short-form video—while giving creators control over what they see and share.
At launch, diVine offers access to more than 100,000 restored Vine videos pulled from a public backup created before Vine was shut down. The original archive, saved by the community-driven Archive Team, existed as massive binary files that weren’t easy to browse. Evan Henshaw-Plath, an early Twitter employee also known as Rabble, spent months writing scripts to reconstruct the videos, creators, view counts, and even a portion of the original comments. The result is a living, searchable slice of internet history that feels familiar but refreshed.
This isn’t just a museum of memes. diVine lets users create profiles and upload new six-second videos, keeping the format that made Vine iconic. But unlike today’s social feeds, where AI clips often slip through with inconsistent labeling, diVine actively flags suspected generative AI and blocks it from being posted. To verify human-made uploads, the app uses technology from the Guardian Project to confirm that videos were actually recorded on a smartphone, supplemented by additional checks.
The archive is sizable but not complete. Rabble estimates the app currently includes roughly 150,000 to 200,000 videos from about 60,000 creators—a strong showing of the most popular content, though much of the long tail, such as countless K-pop edits, was never preserved. Creators still own the copyright to their work. If they want their clips removed, they can submit a DMCA request or reclaim their profiles by proving they control the social accounts listed in their original Vine bios. Once verified, they can post new videos or re-upload any missing classics. The team notes that verification isn’t automated, so delays are possible during busy periods.
Under the hood, diVine runs on Nostr, a decentralized, open protocol aligned with the nonprofit’s mission to fund experimental, open-source tools. That choice means developers can build their own apps, run their own relays and media servers, and participate without relying on venture funding or centralized control. The goal is a resilient network where the experience isn’t dictated by opaque algorithms or corporate whims.
The project positions itself as both a nostalgia play and a statement about what social media could be: human-first, creative, and community-driven. While some platforms chase AI-driven engagement, diVine bets that people still want authenticity, agency, and feeds they can actually curate.
There’s competition on the horizon—other companies have teased reviving the old Vine archive—but diVine is already live and evolving. Its organizers believe sourcing from a public backup and honoring creator copyrights supports fair use, while giving original creators clear paths to opt out or opt back in.
If you miss the fast, funny, human energy of six-second loops, diVine is available now on iOS and Android.
