Vine: The New Trend

     Late last month, Twitter launched a new video application called Vine. This mobile video platform allows users to shoot a video clip up to 6 seconds long. This clip can be one continuous shot or several separate segments. The application than loops the video into a continuous repeating 6-second clip. Vine has allowed Twitter to make its first venture into the video-sharing arena. What differentiates Vine from other video clip sharing applications is its 6-second limit, ability to shoot segmented clips, and the Twitter feed like flow to the video site. The size of the videos allows users to capture a decent amount of information but short enough to suit the attention spans of users. The segmented clip-shooting feature opens up many more possibilities for users to generate content of different types. The Vine site aggregates all of the videos into one feed similar to the Twitter feed which allows users to see many different videos easily.

     Although there are a lot of alternatives to this application, the fact that Twitter acquired this application early on really gives it the ability to become a new player in social media. There are many different options for users whether creating stories, documenting events, shooting in time-lapse, or even film how to videos. This can even be adapted for businesses to use highlighting their products and services in real video for the consumer.

     As this application begins to spread, it will be interesting to see how the application is adapted and used by different groups of people. It has already soared to the number 4 slot on iTunes purchased apps, and it has only been out a short time. This truly social and mobile application is taking the same path that Instagram took utilizing the smart phone camera to allow anyone with the smart phone to participate with ease. Go ahead and check out the Vine and look at all of the different possibilities.