Twitter is shutting down its pioneering short video platform Vine, making the announcement on the same day that the embattled social network announced global job losses.
In a blog, the video platform said “nothing is happening to the apps, website or your Vines today” but that it would not function in the coming months.
Twitter did not give a reason for the app being axed but made the announcement on the same day it said it was cutting 9% of its global staff.
It also confirmed users would be able to continue to watch previous posts to the site, which has around 200 million users.
“To all the creators out there – thank you for taking a chance on this app back in the day, ” Vine said. “To the many team members over the years who made this what it was – thank you for your contributions. What’s next? We’ll be working closely with creators to make sure your questions are answered and will work hard to do this the right way. We’ll be sharing more details on this blog and our Twitter account, and will notify you through the app when we start to change things.”
It did not offer any further details on when the app would be shut down.
We have some important news to share about Vine. Read more here: https://t.co/jPveGelXgS
— Vine (@vine) October 27, 2016
Vine, which was bought by Twitter shortly before its launch in 2013, lets people share six-second long clips that played on a loop.
The most-looped video was footage taken from inside the Stade de France during the Paris terror attacks in November 2015.
Others include a pile of honking rubber ducks and Leonardo DiCaprio’s face when Lady Gaga passed by him at the Golden Globe Awards in January.
Twitter has been subject to a bidding war as the social network looks for a buyer. Howevr, the company has seen its shares fall in recent weeks as potential suitors Google and Disney both reportedly lost interest in a deal. Microsoft and Salesforce are also said to be ibterested in buying the social network.