Observed Signal · Apr 29, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Jack Dorsey-backed Vine reboot Divine launches publicly
Divine, a reboot of Vine backed by Jack Dorsey’s nonprofit “and Other Stuff,” launched publicly on April 29, 2026, with mobile apps on the App Store, Google Play and the Nostr-powered Zapstore. Built by Evan Henshaw-Plath (known as Rabble), Divine restores and hosts roughly 500,000 archived Vine videos from about 100,000 original creators and allows new six‑second looping posts. The app is structured as a public benefit corporation with no current revenue model. Divine emphasizes authenticity by excluding AI‑generated content: users must record in-app or verify uploads using the C2PA provenance standard. The platform is built on the open social protocol Nostr, is experimenting with AT Protocol integration, and may support ActivityPub in future to promote open protocols and creator control.
A new social platform revives a large creator archive, promotes open protocols and provenance verification (C2PA), and could influence creator-first alternatives to large walled gardens—but it currently has no revenue model and limited immediate ad monetization impact.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Divine launched publicly on April 29, 2026 and is available on the App Store, Google Play and the Nostr-powered Zapstore.
- The project was financed by “and Other Stuff,” a nonprofit formed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in May 2025.
- Divine hosts roughly 500,000 restored Vine videos from nearly 100,000 original Vine creators, sourced from Archive Team backups.
- Divine requires users to record videos in-app or verify uploaded content via the C2PA provenance standard to block AI-generated content.
- The app is built on the open social protocol Nostr and is experimenting with integrating the AT Protocol and potentially ActivityPub; it is structured as a public benefit corporation with no revenue model at launch.
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Ex‑Twitter Architects Launch Vine‑Style App Banning AI
Divine, a new six‑second loop video app created by Evan Henshaw‑Plath (aka Rabble) and funded by Jack Dorsey, launches publicly on 2026-08-20 after roughly nine months in development. The independent platform positions itself as a revival of Vine-style short-form loops, hosts more than 2.5 million 'Vine classics', and explicitly bans AI‑generated content. Built on the open Nostr protocol, Divine says it avoids algorithmic recommendation systems and aims to integrate commercial opportunities from launch; Taco Bell is announced as its first brand partner offering early access to customers. The app emphasizes creator ownership and transparency but will compete in a short-form market dominated by TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
DiVine, Vine Successor, Won't Rule Out Ads
DiVine, a new app inspired by Vine and led by Evan Henshaw-Plath, launched August 2026 and offers six-second looping videos plus a “classic” tab hosting more than two million restored original Vine clips. The app is funded by Jack Dorsey (who reportedly holds no equity) and is built on the decentralized Nostr protocol. DiVine requires users to record clips in-app or provide a C2PA provenance check; content that appears AI-made is blocked. The company is evaluating revenue options including paid services and advertising; CMO Alice Chan said the team is "not closed to ads" but wants brand content native to DiVine. Early brand activity includes a Taco Bell throwback campaign that is promoting the app ahead of public launch. Industry observers flagged questions about policing AI content and long-term sustainability without ad revenue.
Meta Vibes, OpenAI Sora 2 First Year Shows AI Slop Rejected
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