Why is UpScrolled winning over former TikTok users?

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Palestinian-founded app UpScrolled becomes the #1 most-downloaded social media app amid TikTok crisis.
Users are leaving TikTok over privacy concerns, service outages, and alleged censorship, fueling UpScrolled’s rapid growth.

A major shift is reshaping the social media landscape as UpScrolled, a Palestinian-founded app, has overtaken tech giants to become the top-downloaded social media app on the Apple App Store this week.

The surge follows a deep crisis at TikTok. Since the finalization of a US joint venture on January 22, 2026, in which ByteDance ceded majority control to American investors, TikTok has seen a 150% spike in uninstalls. Users cite repeated service outages and refusal to accept “updated privacy policies” that grant the new management broader access to sensitive data as key reasons for abandoning the platform.

The rise of UpScrolled

Founded by Palestinian-Australian technologist Issam Hijazi, UpScrolled launched in mid-2025 as a response to perceived “shadow-banning” and censorship of pro-Palestinian content on mainstream platforms. Following TikTok’s ownership shift, high-profile influencers began urging their followers to migrate to UpScrolled.

Key features driving the migration include:

Chronological feeds: Returns to time-based content without opaque algorithms.
No shadow-banning: Transparent moderation with public accountability.
Independent ownership: Self-financed, operating outside major venture capital or tech conglomerates.

“UpScrolled is a reimagining of what social media should be: a space where creators and communities thrive with real control and accountability,” Hijazi said after the app recorded a record-breaking week.

Why users are leaving TikTok

TikTok’s new US-led joint venture, intended to protect the app from a total ban, has instead triggered a “trust crisis.” Key issues include:

Privacy policy: The updated terms allow collection of sensitive data, including biometrics, location, and ethnic origin, raising surveillance fears.
Censorship claims: Users allege the new management suppresses content critical of government policy.
Technical glitches: A major power outage at a US data center caused widespread upload failures, frustrating creators.

The double-edged sword of free speech

UpScrolled’s meteoric rise highlights the appeal of independent tech, but it has not been without controversy. The platform’s minimal moderation and rejection of mainstream “safety algorithms” have drawn criticism from watchdog groups.

Recent reports indicate a sharp increase in unmoderated content, including antisemitic rhetoric and misinformation. Researchers warn that while users value the unfiltered experience, Hijazi faces the challenge of balancing freedom of expression with legal and ethical responsibilities as the app scales globally.

What do users say on X?

We deleted our TikTok, follow us on UpScrolled (@realUpScrolled). No fascist censorship. https://t.co/IgpZFTuS96 #tiktokdown pic.twitter.com/JqGdgS7ACY
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) January 26, 2026

It is time to delete #TikTok and download #UpScrolled pic.twitter.com/lAKEcxBRAw
— Hejazi (@HejazeHurr) January 25, 2026

TikTok’s been sold off to a surveillance billionaire. The algorithm is compromised and the censorship will only get worse.

UpScrolled isn’t perfect, but it’s ours and it’s where this movement goes next.

Spread the word. Get on UpScrolled. pic.twitter.com/4mgpGSFdBY
— YourFavoriteGuy (@guychristensen_) January 25, 2026

#upscrolled

I signed up to unscrolled .. this will replace the Zionist owned TikTok pic.twitter.com/LRPZoXbXFC
— Gaza prevails (@ammrye) January 26, 2026

UpScrolled’s growth underscores a turning point in social media, where independent platforms can challenge tech giants, but with new risks and responsibilities.