Vine, a new Twitter feature available for iPhones since Jan. 24, allows users to tweet six-second videos. The videos are made through a simple interface encouraging tweeters to splice several different shots together to create a short video segment. What results is similar to the .gif image format — but audio is provided as well.
Unfortunately for Android users, Vine is not yet available through the Google Play store. Videos can be viewed on Android through the Twitter app and through Twitter’s mobile website, but the videos are often slow to load.
The success of image sharing apps like Instagram and Snapchat paved the way for Vine, but it has the potential to overshadow its predecessors. The video splicing creates an artistic feel in each video, similar to that of Instagram, but provides users with the option to share multiple scenes in a short period of time. The combination of audio and video provides the opportunity for people to share more in-depth glimpses into their daily activities with their friends.
It did not take long, however, for the app to become a vehicle for porn. On Jan. 28, just four days after the app’s release, a pornographic video was featured as an “Editor’s Pick,” according to BusinessInsider.com. The video was quickly taken down with an apology from the staff at Twitter, but it reflects the prevalence of inappropriate content available through the app.
Regardless of what activities users choose to share with their friends, the shortness of the videos appeals to the diminishing attention span of society. The need for lengthy conversations about your day may soon be reduced to the length of a quick, six-second video.