When we talk about early social media platforms, names like Myspace and Friendster often dominate the conversation. But if you were online in the mid-2000s, you probably remember another name: Hi5 Social Media. Back then, Hi5 was one of the largest social networking sites in the world, especially popular in Latin America, parts of Europe, and Asia. It offered a way to connect with friends, build a Hi5 profile, share photos, and discover new people long before Facebook and Twitter took over.
But with so many people once asking, “What happened to Hi5?”, it’s worth taking a closer look at its journey. Let’s dive into its history, rise, challenges, and what Hi5 has become today.
Hi5 was founded in 2003 by Ramu Yalamanchi in San Francisco, California. At the time, social networking was just starting to gain momentum. Friendster had already begun to capture attention, and Myspace was making noise in the United States.
Hi5 entered the scene with a similar concept: allow users to create personal profiles, upload photos, post updates, and connect with friends. You could even join groups based on shared interests. For many, Hi5 felt like a fresh alternative and was easier to use compared to some of its competitors.
By 2008, Hi5 was ranked among the top 25 most visited websites worldwide. In fact, in several countries, it even outperformed Facebook.
While platforms like Facebook and Twitter eventually refined the social experience, Hi5 had its own charm that made it stand out.
Customizable Profiles: Users loved designing their Hi5 profile with backgrounds, colors, and music. It felt personal and expressive, unlike the uniform look of Facebook.
Photo Sharing: Uploading and tagging photos made Hi5 one of the best platforms for sharing memories before Instagram existed.
Friend Discovery: Hi5 emphasized finding new people, not just reconnecting with old friends. Many users treated it like a mix between a social network and a dating platform.
Games and Apps: Later on, Hi5 tried to reinvent itself with social gaming, making “high five social media” more of a fun and interactive place.
In many ways, Hi5 captured the experimental and playful side of early online communities.
Hi5 became especially popular outside the United States. Countries like Mexico, Peru, Thailand, and the Philippines embraced it as their go-to social media network. For many users, Hi5 was their first introduction to social networking.
Unlike Facebook, which started as a college-exclusive network, Hi5 was open to everyone from day one. This helped it spread quickly. By 2007, Hi5 claimed to have over 70 million registered members, with half of its traffic coming from international audiences.
So, if Hi5 was so successful, why did it fade away? The answer lies in competition, timing, and shifting user expectations.
The Rise of Facebook
When Facebook opened to the public in 2006, it quickly became the global standard for social networking. Its clean design, real identity policy, and stronger privacy settings made users trust it more than Hi5.
Lack of Innovation
While Facebook and Twitter constantly improved their platforms, Hi5 struggled to keep up. Its flashy, heavily customizable pages felt outdated as people began preferring minimal, streamlined interfaces.
Identity Crisis
Hi5 shifted focus multiple times—first from social networking, then to social discovery, and later to social gaming. This confused users and made it hard to retain a loyal community.
Security Concerns
Fake accounts, spam, and weak moderation also hurt Hi5’s reputation. Many users abandoned their Hi5 profile for safer spaces.
By 2010, Hi5’s popularity had drastically declined, leading many to ask, “Is Hi5 still active?”
Interestingly, Hi5 didn’t disappear completely. It still exists today—but in a very different form.
In 2011, Hi5 was acquired by Tagged (a social discovery site). Later, both platforms became part of The Meet Group, a company specializing in dating and social apps. Today, Hi5 operates primarily as a friendship and dating network.
You can still log in with Facebook or email to access Hi5.
The platform now focuses on connecting strangers rather than maintaining old friendships.
Instead of just being a “social media old” platform, Hi5 has reinvented itself for the online dating age.
So yes, if you’re wondering, “Does Hi5 still exist?”—the answer is yes, but not in the same way you remember.
To understand why Hi5 fell off, let’s compare it with giants like Facebook and Twitter:
| Feature | Hi5 (2005–2010) | Facebook (2005–2025) | Twitter/X (2006–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Social networking, later social gaming | Real-life connections, media sharing, communities | Microblogging, conversations, news |
| Profile Design | Fully customizable | Standardized, clean design | Minimal, text-driven |
| Global Adoption | Strong in Latin America, Asia | Global dominance | Strong in news, politics |
| Current Focus | Social discovery/dating | Everything: friends, business, media | Conversations, trending topics |
Clearly, while Facebook and Twitter evolved, Hi5 couldn’t keep up with the shift in user needs.
If you visit the Hi5 website today, you’ll find a platform geared toward meeting new people, chatting, and building relationships. It has little resemblance to the Hi5 social media old days, but it’s still around for those who enjoy its dating-focused community.
So if someone asks, “Can you still use Hi5?” the answer is yes—but don’t expect the nostalgic, profile-heavy version from the 2000s. Instead, think of it as a blend of social networking and dating.
When did Hi5 come out? → 2003.
When was Hi5 popular? → Between 2005 and 2008.
Does anyone still use Hi5? → Yes, but mostly for dating/social discovery.
Who owns Hi5 now? → The Meet Group.
Was Hi5 the first social media? → No, but it was one of the first major global players.
Even though Hi5 is no longer a major player in the social media world, it paved the way for many platforms that followed. It showed that people wanted personalized online spaces where they could express themselves and connect globally.
For millions of people, Hi5 social media was their first online community—a place where friendships, romances, and digital creativity thrived.
So, what happened to Hi5? Simply put, it couldn’t keep up with the speed and innovation of Facebook, Twitter, and later Instagram. Its identity crisis and lack of clear direction made users leave for other platforms.
But unlike some social networks that disappeared completely, Hi5 survived by reinventing itself. While it’s no longer a giant in the industry, it still exists in 2025 as a social discovery and dating site.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can even create a new Hi5 profile or log in with Facebook to see what the platform has become.
In the end, Hi5 may not be the powerhouse it once was, but it remains a fascinating chapter in the history of social media evolution.
