Sorry , internet lovers : This summertime , you ’ll have to wedge to television spreader ’ playbacks of Olympics highlights instead of enjoying them in Vine , Instagram TV , or GIF manakin . accord to Quartz , the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) has overstep Modern rules banning news organization from creating brief , loop picture and animated epitome files of the Rio 2016 Summer Games .

The IOC ’s new principle [ PDF]—which nix person from making “ revivify GIFs ( i.e. GIFV ) , GFY , WebM , or shortsighted video formats such as Vines and others"—ensures that audiences are tuning into broadcasters ’ official insurance coverage of the global , 16 - day - long sporting event . AsFortunepoints out , electronic web likeNBCpaid more than $ 1 billion to secure exclusive TV right wing of the Rio Games — and they ’re afraid that audiences wo n’t observe their footage if they can capture the best contribution elsewhere . Along the same line , the IOC has also barred media organizations from broadcasting Olympic moment via video - on - demand weapons platform , or on “ interactive servicing ” that are n’t part of an official news program .

allot toThe Guardian , the anti - GIF and Vine rules are n’t new . In fact , the IOC ’s Rule Book was originally published more than one year ago , in May 2015 . But the rule only gained widespread attention after last week , when Natalie DiBlasio , digital editor atUSA Today , noticed it and pointed it outin a tweet .

Wikimedia Commons // Fair Use

Social media user have railed against the IOC ’s new restrictions , mourn the expiration of shareable , byte - sized moments likethis viral 2012 GIFof gymnast McKayla Maroney ’s pure bank vault . But asNew Yorkmagazinepoints out , the IOC ’s ban on GIFs and Vine will be fairly hard to implement at large . manifest media society wo n’t be making them , but plenty of average net users in all probability will — so do n’t be surprised if you still see a few iteration or animate athletic high points popping up on your social culture medium feed during the next two workweek .

[ h / tQuartz ]

Know of something you think we should cover ? Email us attips@mentalfloss.com .