In May 2025, they released their new platform diVine. Its mission is to bring back the initial creative vibe of Vine with fresh tools, like a robust camera and editing functionality, that take the platform to new heights. diVine was the brainchild of Evan Henshaw-Plath, an early Twitter employee. It soon built up tremendous momentum, largely due to major funding provided by Jack Dorsey’s nonprofit, “and Other Stuff.” This new effort’s emphasis is on funding experimental open-source projects and tools that will help democratize and liberate the social media ecosystem.
Then we have the exclusive access to the 100,000 archived Vine videos. diVine restores content from an archival backup made from Vine’s last pre-shutdown 2017 server backup. This huge collection features a “good percentage” of the most viewed videos from the earlier platform. DiVine hosts approximately 150,000 to 200,000 videos contributed by around 60,000 creators, showcasing the rich history and creativity that Vine once celebrated.
diVine is free to download on iOS and Android devices through its website, diVine.video. The platform incorporates the latest technology from the Guardian Project. This digital rights nonprofit organization is on the front lines of defending our privacy and advocating for digital freedom. REGISTER HERE. BELIEVE IN POSSIBILITIES. diVine employs multiple verification methods to ensure that real people, not AI, are writing the scripts for each new video upload.
Most importantly, Dorsey has made clear that the vision for diVine should focus on permissionless protocols, a vital piece of infrastructure in the evolving digital landscape.
“Nostr — the underlying open source protocol being used by diVine — is empowering developers to create a new generation of apps without the need for VC-backing, toxic business models or huge teams of engineers,” – Jack Dorsey
With the launch of diVine, nostalgia is just the beginning. At its core, the initiative seeks to develop social media platforms that give users the tools to control their social media journey. Rabble, one of the artistic forces behind diVine, described the vision beautifully.
“So basically, I’m like, can we do something that’s kind of nostalgic?” – Rabble
Rabble continued, explaining how the platform is trying to balance addressing past harms with present-day needs.
“Can we do something that takes us back, that lets us see those old things, but also lets us see an era of social media where you could either have control of your algorithms, or you could choose who you follow, and it’s just your feed, and where you know that it’s a real person that recorded the video?” – Rabble
The reclamation of Vine’s content is no easy task. The minds behind diVine also spent months developing complex big data scripts. These scripts backfilled and indexed that original research with great accuracy. The intent here is to capture the best possible user experience while still respecting the community of creatives that Vine built during its golden age.
As we live in a world filled with AI-generated content, Rabble’s most important takeaway was the difference this makes in what users actually want.
“Companies see the AI engagement and they think that people want it,” – Rabble
DiVine seeks to reverse this trend by providing authentic human connection. The platform champions creativity and fosters an environment where users can rediscover their favorite short videos while enjoying a more personalized social media experience.
Dorsey’s funding via “and Other Stuff” aims to unleash more of these creative engineers, such as Rabble. His vision reminds us all of the game-changing innovations that can be achieved outside of big business interests.
“The reason I funded the non-profit, and Other Stuff, is to allow creative engineers like Rabble to show what’s possible in this new world, by using permissionless protocols which can’t be shut down based on the whim of a corporate owner,” – Jack Dorsey
As diVine continues to grow, it stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of short-form video content while paving the way for a future where users can interact authentically. Through nostalgia powered by technology, diVine hopes to find its place in the constantly changing social media world.