Twitter to shut down Vine #RIPVine

Twitter has announced that it is shutting down the video app it acquired three years ago. While no exact reason was given for the move, the networking service has been unable to find a buyer and continues to lose money.

The social media site has failed to keep pace with rivals Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, and in recent months rumours that it would be acquired have been rampant. Nevertheless Twitter hasn’t found a willing buyer and only this morning announced that it would be laying off nine percent of its staff strength.

Vine helped launch a range of new internet sensations, many of whom have now branched out into other places like Snapchat.

‘Since 2013, millions of people have turned to Vine to laugh at loops and see creativity unfold. Today, we are sharing the news that in the coming months we’ll be discontinuing the mobile app,’ the statement said.

It further says that it would share more information and timing on when the app would be completely shut down in the coming months.

Vine had gradually been integrating with Twitter. Perhaps the clearest statement of that was the fact that Vine dropped its six-second limit, as part of a change that altered the way that Twitter videos work.

Source: TheNETng