Technology: Algorithm and Protocol

With the rapid popularity of Vine, co-creators Dom Hofmann, Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll knew they needed to implement an algorithm to help ensure that the best content available is the easiest content for their users to access. They did this by inventing a 'creativity algorithm' in which videos would be assessed based on their creativity, and the videos deemed 'most creative' were found on the explore page. The algorithm was designed by Yahoo Labs in Spain, and the first step involved defining creativity. To put it simply:

CREATIVITY = NOVELTY AND VALUE

--> Novelty = Innovative and Well Executed Technique

--> Value = Emotional + Sensory +Intellectual

(Pearson, 2014, p. 3)

Value was further analyzed as they broke down the sensory component into several categories including: scene content, compositional technique, and filmmaking technique, while the emotional component was characterized by its audio and visual quality (Pearson, 2014, p. 6).  Once the value of a specific video is found, the algorithm then assesses it's novelty in relation to other videos. Using this algorithm Vine is successfully able to sift through the millions of Vine's constantly being uploaded to the app, leaving their users with easy access to what the algorithm deems as the most creative content. 

Vine doesn't make their users follow too many protocols in order to gain access to content. Vine uses regulatory features to ensure they're constantly gaining users. On the mobile app. one must create a profile using their email or Twitter account in order to use the app at all. Once you're signed up, you're free to browse any content unless it belongs to a user with a locked profile. To gain access to a locked profile's content one must request and be accepted to follow by that specific user. However anyone is free to browse through Vine videos on their website without logging in. To interact with content on Vine (like, revine, remix) one must be signed into their profile. Most of the meta data on vine such as their channels would also be considered protocols as the visible interface uses buttons and icons to "actively steer connections between users and content" (Van Dijck, 2013, p. 31). 

   <-Locked Profile vs. Unlocked ->

References:

Dijck, J. V. (2013). The culture of connectivity: a critical history of social media. New York: Oxford University Press.

Pearson, J. (2014, November 20). This Algorithm Automatically Detects Vines that don't Suck. Vice Motherboard. Retrieved from http://motherboard.vice.com/read/this-algorithm-automatically-detects-the-vines-that-dont-suck