**Vine: Six Seconds That Changed The World
**Episode 8: Famous
**Host: Benedict Townsend
Release Date: May 6, 2025

Introduction: Reflecting on Vine’s Legacy

In the final episode of the eight-part series, Benedict Townsend delves into the profound impact Vine had on the internet landscape and the creator economy. Titled "Famous," this episode examines the factors leading to Vine's demise, its enduring legacy, and the nostalgic reverence it commands even years after its shutdown.

The Final Days of Vine

Benedict opens the episode by setting the scene of Vine's abrupt termination on October 28, 2016. The platform, once vibrant with new content, suddenly halted all uploads, leaving creators and fans in shock.

[01:08]
Benedict Townsend: "And then, yeah, they discontinued it on 28th October 2016. For the first time in three years, the world woke up without any new vines."

An anonymous voice captures the confusion and frustration of users during this period.

[01:28]
Unknown: "I don't care that you broke your own horse."

Benedict highlights the immediate impact, noting how the absence of new vines transformed the app into a static repository of past content.

The Role of Media and Public Perception

A pivotal moment in Vine’s history was an article by Taylor Lorenz titled "Inside the Secret Meeting that Changed the Fate of Vine Forever," which attributed Vine's downfall to internal conflicts among its top creators.

[01:57]
Karen: "When Taylor Lorenz's article came out... they experienced so much hate."

This narrative captivated the public, suggesting a dramatic internal showdown was responsible for Vine’s closure. However, Karen, a Vine insider, challenges this viewpoint.

[03:01]
Karen: "I think the downfall of vine can be attributed to like, probably eight or nine different things. And that was certainly one of them. But I don't think that was the only one."

Benedict concurs, revealing that Vine had been struggling for nearly a year before the final shutdown, with declining user engagement as major contributors.

[03:33]
Benedict Townsend: "Vine died in October 2016, but as we found over the course of our series, the app had been atrophying for nearly a year before that."

Competition and Missed Opportunities

Taylor Lorenz provides insight into Vine’s inability to adapt to emerging trends, particularly the rise of lip-syncing apps like Musical.ly, which later evolved into TikTok.

[04:18]
Taylor Lorenz: "Vine did not iterate on their product. Users had already moved on by the end of 2016..."

Russ, a former Vine employee, reflects on what Vine could have done differently.

[05:15]
Russ: "Lip sync videos... Musical Ly's user numbers grew to like 150 million downloads or active users monthly."

Russ suggests that embracing lip-syncing, a trend Vine dismissed, might have extended its lifespan. However, Vine prioritized raw creativity over the accessible engagement that Musical.ly offered.

[07:14]
Russ: "We did not think that was important. We thought that was like something that, you know, cheesy teenagers did."

This strategic reluctance to pivot towards user-driven content creation ultimately hindered Vine's competitiveness against platforms like TikTok, which leveraged sophisticated algorithms and monetization strategies.

The Creator Economy and Vine’s Legacy

The episode underscores Vine's significant role in launching the careers of numerous creators, despite the platform’s short lifespan.

[20:31]
Kenny Knox: "I didn't get any brand deals while I was on vine, which was strange... My Vines were compilations on YouTube... I would get, like, a monthly check."

Kenny’s story illustrates how Vine’s content continued to generate income long after the app's closure through compilations on platforms like YouTube. Additionally, creators like Jasmeet Rainer and Matt emphasize the enduring relationships and opportunities Vine provided.

[22:09]
Jasmeet Rainer: "Some of my best friends to this day, I made through vine..."

The episode also touches on the lack of support and recognition Vine offered its creators, which is a stark contrast to today’s creator-focused platforms.

[24:13]
Bridget Todd: "I think that if they had not done that on Vine, I don't think we would be in an era today where creators are taken seriously..."

Alternate Histories and Speculative Reflections

Russ shares an intriguing alternate history where he and his colleague considered purchasing Vine to revive it. However, the high costs deterred them, leading to the creation of HQ Trivia instead.

[10:26]
Russ: "But when looking at the numbers and the costs, it just didn't make sense for us."

Mary Goodheart prompts Russ to reflect on Vine’s potential salvation, but Russ remains pragmatic about the challenges involved.

Moreover, the episode explores the notion that Vine’s quick demise preserved its positive reputation before the internet became rife with toxicity and data scandals.

[13:29]
Taylor Lorenz: "It ended right before the Internet got super bad... Vine did not iterate on their product."

Creators and experts speculate that even if Vine had survived, it might have succumbed to the same issues plaguing other social media platforms, thus questioning whether its early termination was ultimately beneficial.

Nostalgia and the Future of Short-Form Content

The conversation shifts to the cultural nostalgia surrounding Vine, analyzed as more about yearning for an earlier, more innocent internet era than just missing the app itself.

[14:25]
Benedict Townsend: "So it's sort of deeper than I expected... you can't have vine in a post vine world."

Mary Goodheart elaborates on how the internet has evolved into a more controlled and curated space, contrasting with Vine’s spontaneous and unfiltered nature.

[17:34]
Benedict Townsend: "Because, you know, no matter how bleak it gets out there... it was about what it did to us."

The episode concludes by acknowledging Vine’s unique role in shaping modern social media, emphasizing that its legacy persists through platforms like TikTok, which build upon Vine’s foundational concepts.

Final Thoughts: Vine’s Enduring Impact

Benedict wraps up the episode by reflecting on Vine’s monumental influence despite its brief existence. He acknowledges that while Vine as an app may not return, its spirit lives on in today's social media dynamics.

[25:40]
Benedict Townsend: "The story of vine may not fit within six seconds, but it does loop."

He honors the creators’ contributions and the platform's role in fostering creativity and free expression.

[22:02]
Jasmeet Rainer: "Some of my best friends to this day, I made through vine..."

Ultimately, "Famous" serves as a tribute to Vine's enduring legacy, illustrating how its innovations continue to influence the digital landscape and the ever-evolving relationship between creators and platforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Russ (05:15): "Had we followed [the trend of lip sync videos], I think vine would be in a different place today."
• Karen (03:01): "The downfall of vine can be attributed to like, probably eight or nine different things."
• Taylor Lorenz (04:18): "Musical Ly's user numbers grew to like 150 million downloads or active users monthly."

Conclusion

"Famous," the concluding episode of "Vine: Six Seconds That Changed The World," offers a comprehensive and heartfelt exploration of Vine's rise and fall. Through insightful interviews and reflective narratives, Benedict Townsend captures the essence of Vine's impact on the internet and its creators, emphasizing that while the platform may be gone, its influence remains a cornerstone of modern social media.