Benedict Townsend

It was a really innocent time when you think about it because no one really knew what to do once you had gone viral on Vine. And I think that's the other sort of tell that Vine had broken through is that we were getting genuine Vine celebrities or Vine viral stars. And there was this real question mark of what does that mean? What do you do now? Because it's only six seconds.

It was a really innocent time when you think about it because no one really knew what to do once you had gone viral on Vine. And I think that's the other sort of tell that Vine had broken through is that we were getting genuine Vine celebrities or Vine viral stars. And there was this real question mark of what does that mean? What do you do now? Because it's only six seconds.

So it's like being famous for a gif. It's not really a lot of room to build on.

So it's like being famous for a gif. It's not really a lot of room to build on.

When brands realized that successful creators could be their most direct access point to customers, it didn't just change what it meant to be a Vine creator. It changed the entire social media landscape. Here's Brandon again.

When brands realized that successful creators could be their most direct access point to customers, it didn't just change what it meant to be a Vine creator. It changed the entire social media landscape. Here's Brandon again.

For Aaron, still working at the bookies, William Hill, because you're wondering, in Dover, the arrival of brands on Vine changed his life forever.

For Aaron, still working at the bookies, William Hill, because you're wondering, in Dover, the arrival of brands on Vine changed his life forever.

Was there a bit of a gear shift for you after that of like, oh, this could be something?

Was there a bit of a gear shift for you after that of like, oh, this could be something?

Finally, popularity was turning into real opportunity. But that also meant real competition. To get advertising deals or appearances, you had to stay on top. There was enormous pressure for creators to prove their worth to brands by churning out content that kept the fans happy and engagement high.

Finally, popularity was turning into real opportunity. But that also meant real competition. To get advertising deals or appearances, you had to stay on top. There was enormous pressure for creators to prove their worth to brands by churning out content that kept the fans happy and engagement high.

Maybe it was inevitable then that soon there were accusations of cheating from smaller creators who were increasingly finding that their own jokes and sketches were being replicated without credit.

Maybe it was inevitable then that soon there were accusations of cheating from smaller creators who were increasingly finding that their own jokes and sketches were being replicated without credit.

Chris Melberger was a mid-level creator who actually ended up working for Vine HQ. More on that in the next episode. And he was best known for having great links in the Vine creator community. Like so many others, he saw jokes or even whole skits getting repeated by different users.

Chris Melberger was a mid-level creator who actually ended up working for Vine HQ. More on that in the next episode. And he was best known for having great links in the Vine creator community. Like so many others, he saw jokes or even whole skits getting repeated by different users.

The Big 1600 that Chris is referring to were a group of around 20 of Vine's biggest stars who had all moved into the same apartment complex around 2015 in order to create videos together. The complex was on Vine Street. And if that sounds familiar, good job. You're keeping up with the series. If it doesn't sound familiar, then I don't know why you started on episode four, but good luck to you.

The Big 1600 that Chris is referring to were a group of around 20 of Vine's biggest stars who had all moved into the same apartment complex around 2015 in order to create videos together. The complex was on Vine Street. And if that sounds familiar, good job. You're keeping up with the series. If it doesn't sound familiar, then I don't know why you started on episode four, but good luck to you.

Andrew Batchelor, known as King Batch, he was the first to move into 1600 Vine. And then others like Amanda Cerny, Lily Pons, and Logan Paul soon followed. At one point, Justin Bieber was even hanging out there.

Andrew Batchelor, known as King Batch, he was the first to move into 1600 Vine. And then others like Amanda Cerny, Lily Pons, and Logan Paul soon followed. At one point, Justin Bieber was even hanging out there.