How It Works

Sivis has only a handful of rules, but they all connect. Below is the whole mechanism, from posting a message to how the decay time is calculated.

1. The stage rule

Only one Siv is on stage at a time. A new message cannot be posted until the current one has run out of time. That is why the share button is sometimes locked.

The moment the time is up the stage clears, and whoever posts first takes it. While the stage is empty the share button unlocks.

2. Decay time

Every Siv starts with a lifetime of 5 minutes. Each torch it receives adds 12 seconds; each inspiration adds 24 seconds.

The lifetime is always recalculated from the moment the message was posted. That way, when a torch is taken back or a comment is deleted, the time is correctly reduced as well.

3. Torches and inspiration

A torch says you like a Siv and want it to live longer. Each user can light one torch per Siv, and can take it back.

Inspiration means leaving a comment. Comments extend a message more than torches do, because they take more effort. Comments on your own Siv do not add time.

4. Waiting periods

After a successful post you wait 15 minutes; after a failed attempt where you missed the stage, 10 minutes. These delays protect the single-voice structure and block spam.

There is also a limit of 30 torch or inspiration actions per hour and 200 per day.

5. Notifications and profile

You are notified when your Siv receives a torch or someone leaves inspiration. Your profile lists the Sivs you posted, the ones you lit, the ones you saved and the inspiration you left.

Messages you posted anonymously never appear on your public profile; they are listed only on your own.