Congressional Adoption of Vine

Congressional Adoption of Vine

April 10, 2014
Congressional Adoption of Vine
Overview
Figure 1. Vine Adoption by Political Party and
Chamber
What Is Vine? Vine is a social media mobile video sharing
service that allows users to create six second videos that can
be short snippets of conversation, a series of still shots, or a
moving panorama that automatically repeats in a loop.
These videos (Vines) can be shared with Vine followers
and on Twitter and Facebook.
On What Devices Can I Use Vine? Vine is primarily
supported on mobile devices such as iPhone and Android
and Windows supported devices. The Mobile Application

(App) supports viewing and posting of Vine videos.
Source: CRS analysis of Vine account data, as of January 31, 2014.
Note: Independent Senators are included with the party in which
Can Vine Be Used on the Web? Yes and no. Vine is
they caucus.
primarily a mobile application. The mobile App allows both
the posting of Vines and the viewing of others’ posts. Vine
Member Use of Vine
does, however, have a Website (www.vine.co) where Vines
can be viewed, but not posted.
Are Members of Congress Posting on Vine? Yes. Of the
105 Members who have adopted Vine, 63 have posted at
least one Vine and 42 have signed up for an account but
have not yet posted a Vine. The 63 active users have posted
an average of 7.8 Vines. The minimum number of Vines

posted by active users is one (by 15 users) and the
maximum is 81 (by one user).
How is Vine Different From Other Forms of Social
Media? Vine combines many features from Twitter—short
What is the Party Breakdown for Vine Usage in the
posts and hashtags—with the ability to post short, looping
House and Senate? Overall, House Republicans have
videos or compilation of pictures. It allows users to reach
posted the greatest percentage of Vines (58.3%). This is
followers with both text and video images. Up to 140
followed by House Democrats (20.7%), Senate Democrats
characters of text can accompany a Vine post.
(13.7%), and Senate Republicans (7.4%). In both the House
Member Adoption of Vine
and Senate, more Vines have been posted by the chamber
majority party than the chamber minority party. House
Republicans, however, have posted more Vines (285) than
Are Members of Congress Adopting Vine? As of January
House Democrats (101), Senate Republicans (36), and
31, 2014, a total of 105 Members of Congress (19.6%) had
Senate Democrats (67) combined. Figure 2 shows the
a Vine account. In the House, 82 Representatives (18.9%)
breakdown in the frequency of Vine posts by chamber and
have adopted Vine and in the Senate 23 Senators (23%)
party.
have adopted Vine.
What are Members of Congress Posting on Vine? CRS
What is the Party Breakdown for Vine Adoption in the
has not yet fully analyzed the content of Member Vines to
House and Senate? In both the House and Senate, the
know what Members are posting. Based on an initial
majority party has a larger percentage of Vine adopters than
examination of randomly selected Member Vines, however,
the minority party. Figure 1 shows the percentage of Vine
video posts include information about policy and positions,
adoption in the House and Senate by political party. In the
district and constituent service, official duties, and
House, 75.6% of adopters have been Republicans and
themselves and their families.
24.4% have been Democrats. In the Senate, 60.9% of
adopters have been Democrats, while 39.1% have been

Republicans. Independent Senators are included in the
totals of the party they caucus.

www.crs.gov | 7-5700

Congressional Adoption of Vine
Figure 2. Frequency of Vine Posts by Chamber and
third-party Websites (i.e., social media), including the
Party
naming of accounts, a prohibition against the use of data
gathering tools, and a prohibition against personal,
promotional, commercial, or partisan political/campaign-
related material. For more information, see
http://www.senate.gov/usage/internetpolicy.htm.
Social Media Resources from Vine
Does Vine Provide Guidance on Getting Started? Yes,
Vine has a FAQ and help page. They can be found at
https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170317.
Does Vine Allow Users to Customize Profile Pages? No,

Vine profile pages follow a standard format. The standard
Source: CRS analysis of Vine account data, as of January 31, 2014.
profile includes the account name, a profile picture, the
Note: Independent Senators are included with the party in which he
number of followers and accounts followed by the user, and
or she caucuses.
the most recent Vine posted. Figure 3 shows the profile of
Social Media Policies for Members
the U.S. House Historians Office Vine account
(@USHouseHistory).
What policies are in place for Member offices interested
Figure 3. Vine Sample Screenshot
in adopting Vine? Several policies exist to guide Member
offices interested in adopting and using social media
accounts for official business. These policies vary between
the House and the Senate and are described below.
House of Representatives
What Policies Exist in the House for Social Media
Adoption and Use? The Committee on House
Administration has issued policies on the use of Websites
and the Internet, including what can and cannot be included
on Websites and social media posts. The Member
Handbook specifies that Members may “establish profiles,
pages, channels or other similar presence on third-party
sites...,” so long as Members ensure that their official
position (i.e., representative, congressman,

congresswoman) is clearly stated in the account name.
Source: Screenshot from https://vine.co/u/1005495931879227392.
Further, all information provided on Member-controlled
social media accounts “is subject to the same requirements
For more information on Member adoption of Twitter and
as content on Member websites.” For more information on
Facebook, see CRS Report R43018, Social Networking and
website requirements for Members, see
Constituent Communications: Members’ Use of Twitter and
http://cha.house.gov/handbooks/members-congressional-
Facebook During a Two-Month Period in the 112th
handbook#Members-Handbook-Comms-Websites.
Congress; and CRS Report R41066, Social Networking and
Constituent Communications: Member Use of Twitter
Therefore, material posted on Member social media
During a Two-Month Period in the 111th Congress.
accounts “must be in compliance with Federal law and
House Rules and regulations applicable to official
Jacob R. Straus, jstraus@crs.loc.gov, 7-6438
communications and germane to the conduct of the
Matthew E. Glassman, mglassman@crs.loc.gov, 7-3467
Member’s official and representational duties.” For more
information on the content of Member websites, see
IF00019
http://cha.house.gov/handbooks/members-congressional-
handbook#Members-Handbook-Comms-Websites-Content.
Senate
What Policies Exist in the Senate for Social Media
Adoption and Use? In September 2008, the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration adopted Internet
services usage rules and policies. The policy requires that
all Internet services be used for official purposes only. The
Senate policy also provides requirements for the use of
www.crs.gov | 7-5700

Document Outline

Overview

Member Adoption of Vine

Member Use of Vine

Social Media Policies for Members

House of Representatives

Senate

Social Media Resources from Vine