Jack Dorsey-backed Vine reboot Divine launches to the public

A fresh initiative to resurrect the beloved six-second looping videos of Vine has officially launched, now accessible for download on both the App Store and Google Play. The app, named Divine, promises users a treasure trove of approximately 500,000 Vine videos, meticulously restored from the original service's backup archives, and empowers creators to once again share new Vines. Financed by the nonprofit organization ‘and Other Stuff,’ established by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in May 2025, Divine aims to revolutionize the social media scene through innovative open-source projects. Dorsey’s involvement is not as a conventional investor; instead, he seeks to rectify his earlier decision to shut down Vine during his tenure as Twitter's CEO. Evan Henshaw-Plath, a former Twitter employee and a member of ‘and Other Stuff,’ led the charge in developing Divine. Known online as “Rabble,” he delved into the Vine archives, where much of the original content was preserved by a community-driven project called the Archive Team. This endeavor required Rabble to create complex data scripts to decode sizable binary files, helping to reconstruct not just the videos but also the associated user interactions, such as views, likes, and comments. While not all data could be recovered, significant strides have been made since the app's initial testing phase, which started last November with 100,000 of Vine’s most popular clips. Now, with the app’s public debut, Divine showcases around 500,000 videos from nearly 100,000 original Vine creators. Early Vine stars like Lele Pons, JimmyHere, and MightyDuck have shown interest in the initiative. Divine profiles can even be accessed online without the app, widening the scope of engagement. Initially, the plan was to launch the app swiftly following initial tests. However, feedback from early Vine creators prompted the team to refine their approach. Rabble noted, "It was actually the Viners who were like, 'no, no — this is way more important than just nostalgia.'" They expressed a desire for a platform that would reset social media and filter out less authentic, AI-generated content. Taking this advice to heart, the team dedicated time to enhance the app's coding and design. The version of Divine that is now available embodies these improvements, featuring a compilation mode that resonates with the younger generation who grew up watching Vines. This mode allows users to create personalized video lists, such as a stream of cat-themed Vines under a hashtag. A key feature of Divine is its commitment to excluding AI-generated content. Rabble stated, "I decided that I was going to filter out AI content because I personally don’t like seeing AI content. I don’t like feeling tricked." The platform mandates that users either record videos directly in the app or verify the creation process using C2PA, a standard for establishing the origins and edits of digital content. Aside from reviving the essence of Vine, Divine aspires to promote open protocols in social media, aligning with Rabble's vision of reclaiming the digital landscape from dominant tech giants. The app is built on the open social protocol Nostr, and future integrations may include the AT Protocol and ActivityPub, which supports alternative social networks. Divine operates as a public benefit corporation and lacks a traditional revenue model. However, Rabble envisions a space where digital creators can regain control over their online presence, potentially monetizing it through brand collaborations or direct support models like Patreon. Lele Pons, an original Vine creator, expressed her enthusiasm for the app's return, stating, "It was such a key moment in my own personal journey, and in internet culture, it makes me so happy to see these early classics brought back to life and to have the chance to create new ones." Divine is available for free on the App Store, Google Play, and the Nostr-powered Zapstore, with access gradually rolling out to users on the waitlist through invite codes.