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Palestinian-Australian founder Issam Hijazi is developing UpScrolled, a social media app he says was created to offer users a more open space for expression, as the platform records a surge in downloads and climbs App Store rankings in some markets.
The application aims to compete with social media giants such as TikTok and Meta.
Hijazi says the app combines ease of use with freedom of expression, while its recent performance indicates a sharp rise in download rankings, signaling broad engagement and a fast-moving entry into the global social app marketplace.
UpScrolled was launched as a reaction to what its founder described as the tightening of restrictions on Palestinian content across major platforms during the war of genocide on Gaza.
In that context, Hijazi said he saw a need for a digital space where Palestinians could express themselves freely, without “hidden constraints” or “strict censorship.”
Hijazi, a Palestinian-Australian, said in a previous interview: “We know people are looking for an alternative and are tired of shadow banning. I decided to dedicate myself to building an alternative social platform.”
He added that since “the genocide in Gaza,” everything changed inside him, from how he views life to his work and ambitions. He said he felt complicit through his work at major tech companies, so he decided to launch “a fair digital space for Palestinian voices.”
The platform was launched with support from the “Tech for Palestine” coalition, a global initiative formed by engineers and investors led by Paul Biggar. The initiative includes more than 40 founders and seeks to support Palestinian rights through technology and create digital alternatives that enable voices to be heard freely, according to the information provided.
This support framework has become part of the platform’s identity, presented as a more just digital space in contrast to what activists and users describe as bias and selective censorship elsewhere.
The app was not widely known at first, but it has recently seen a noticeable spike in downloads following the acquisition of TikTok by U.S. billionaire and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, known for his support for Israel and a long-standing friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the information provided.
UpScrolled rose into the top 10 free apps list on the App Store in some markets and ranked prominently in the social networking category, according to the U.S. tech outlet The Verge.
Data from the app tracking company Appfigures showed the app was downloaded 41,000 times between Thursday and Saturday, averaging 14,000 downloads per day, more than 29 times the earlier daily average of 460 downloads prior to the TikTok acquisition mentioned.
At the same time, the hashtag “UpScrolled,” in both Arabic and English, topped social platforms after the sharp download increase and declining trust among some users in major platforms.
The platform’s account wrote in a post on Bluesky: “You showed up so fast that our servers ran out of capacity,” adding that it is working to restart the app.
Activists described UpScrolled as a space where they can post and express themselves with complete freedom, unlike other apps they say are governed by biased algorithms and selective censorship. Other users said the platform has become more than a social tool. For them, it is a space to confront “digital censorship” and deliver their voices directly to audiences.
Some bloggers argued that the app’s rise in countries such as the United States, Britain, and Australia reflects a digital rebellion against platforms they believe have stifled free expression and turned into surveillance tools.
Others said UpScrolled blends the style of TikTok with the speed of Twitter, while relying on a simple chronological feed without algorithmic manipulation: “no shadow banning, no pay-to-win favoritism, and no penalties for opinions,” according to the information provided.
At the same time, commenters noted that UpScrolled remains in an early growth stage compared with digital giants that have billions of users and deep integration across the wider digital ecosystem.
Still, they emphasized that interest is increasing, especially among users frustrated with major platforms’ policies, particularly around transparency and fairness in content reach.
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