GoKawiilIt started as an experiment, Divine co-founder Evan Henshaw-Plath told me. He wanted to see if he could build an app that effectively filtered out AI slop.
The idea was to create a different kind of social media experience, one without AI-generated videos or picture-perfect photos, one that prioritized authenticity over engagement. That's what led him back to Vine.
Vine, which peaked in popularity around 2014, was one of the original places online for short-form videos, known for its unpolished style and quirky humor. Despite the app being shut down in 2017, those old Vine videos still existed thanks to the Internet Archive. The Divine team worked with folks there to convert those archived videos into a more accessible format so they could be viewed again.
"That's how Divine came to be, where we're [asked], can we bring back these old videos? Can we bring back this old way of creating? And can we empower users to not see AI-generated content, to control their experience?" Henshaw-Plath said.
Now the app has been reimagined for the new digital age.
Called Divine -- as in, "do it for the vine" -- the new video app is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You can also watch videos on the website without an account. In addition to over 500,000 classic videos, you can find and share new videos.
Divine is not exactly the same as Vine, but it will feel familiar to scrolling through other social media apps like Instagram and TikTok.
The app's initial announcement generated excitement beyond simple nostalgia when the team behind Divine confirmed it would be AI-free -- no bizarre AI videos to be seen. This is a high bar to reach, as AI-generated videos are becoming increasingly realistic. But it's a refreshing position given how much of the internet is filled with AI slop.
Here's what you need to know.
Bringing back Vine, kinda
... continue reading