Upworthy.com was founded in 2012, when Facebook was King (& Queen!)
Since then, the Internet has rapidly evolved with new platforms launching seemingly every year. The media landscape has not only become a volatile industry in which to work, it’s become, more concerningly, overwhelmingly fraught with negativity and fear-inducing content.
After joining the company 2 years in at the ripe age of 23, I’ve worked a myriad of roles to steadily and successfully shape Upworthy into the brand it is today: a beloved household name that leverages its massive reach to share the best of humanity with the world.
Upworthy 1.0 logo in 2012
Pentagram's 2016 redesign
Fully evolved! The 'Upworthy Sunrise' logo we know and love
In an age of divisiveness, we connect people back to their shared humanity.
We source real stories from all over the world that highlight thing we can all relate to— regardless of where you come from, your political preference, your sexual orientation, income bracket. We focus on the things that make us all human — the highs, the lows, the funny, the awe-inspiring, the vulnerable, the real. In an age of divisiveness, we help people reconnect to what we all have in common.
We carefully create content through a lens of optimism— we don’t turn away from the world’s problems, but rather focus on the people creating solutions to them.
There’s a lot of good in the world, you just need to know where to look. (Hint: Here.)
We’ve created a highly successful media outlet by providing a respite from negativity on the Internet.
It’s so much easier to engage online by stoking outrage and division, but we’ve proven that media that reminds you of the good in the world, actually engages at a rate just as, if not more than, divisive content.
Upworthy got a whopping 180MM+ engagements across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram in 2021 (likes, shares, comments, forwards, saves.)
It earned us a coveted spot (#38) on Comscore’s Top Social Brands of the Year in 2021, beating out the likes of household legacy brands like The Washington Post, ABC News and NPR.
Our brand is not only beloved, it’s essential.
Especially since the pandemic hit in 2020, we’ve developed a deeply meaningful relationship with our audience of millions. Not only do people hold a space in their heart for Upworthy, they actively seek it out.
Why? We’ve built a beloved brand that provides mental refuge and relief to people all over the world by offering an alternative to fear-baiting headlines.
We’ve proven that the Internet can be used as a tool that connects us in community, that provides a reminder of what bonds us as people and even aid in ones’ mental health (if used conscientiously.)
Upworthy illuminates the good in what can otherwise feel like a dark world. It’s so gratifying to see it working.
