Vine is dead. It lived longer than six seconds.
Twitter, indeed, is killing the short-form video app it launched in 2013. It was a useful tool in the content game, and soon it'll be gone. Oh well!
We’ll be working closely with creators to make sure your questions are answered and will work hard to do this the right way. We’ll be sharing more details on this blog and our Twitter account, and will notify you through the app when we start to change things.
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Vines had their niche; unlike .GIFs, they had sound. Unlike .GIFs, they were one-step-simple to make. And, like Twitter, the six-second limit forced creativity in small spaces.
Users could create six-second, easily shareable bits of comedy, music, sports highlights, whatever, as a means of mainly a) getting famous b) achieving some weird, funhouse-mirror version of fame c) picking up Twitter followers and d) funneling traffic to other websites.
There will always be new ways to achieve all of this. For now, let's wring a few more out of the departed. These are some good sports Vines.
— Most of them were about the LeBron James kid.
— Most of the other ones were about Riley Curry.
— The best Vines utilized sound.
— ...and random people doing amazing stuff.
— Also, accidents.
— And famous people.
— And, of course, Stephen A. Smith.
So, goodbye Vine. Say hello to TwitPic for us.