Palestinian social app Upscrolled removed from Google Play Store

• Google Play has delisted UpScrolled, the "censorship-resistant" social media app founded by Issam Hijazi, following its rapid growth to over 2.5 million users and its brief stint as a top-ranked alternative to TikTok.
• While the app remains available for existing users, Google has not provided a specific reason for the removal; UpScrolled's team confirmed they are working with the Play Store for reinstatement while maintaining their commitment to unfiltered content.

UpScrolled, a social media platform developed by Palestinian-Australian entrepreneur Issam Hijazi, has been temporarily removed from the Google Play Store, rendering it unavailable for Android users to download.

The suspension occurred today and was confirmed by the company through its official X account.

This development follows the app's rapid ascent in popularity, particularly amid concerns over content moderation on competing platforms like TikTok.

Launched in June 2025, UpScrolled positions itself as a censorship-resistant alternative to mainstream social media applications, emphasizing user control and freedom of expression.

The platform allows for sharing photos, videos, text, and messages, and has marketed itself as a space free from algorithmic suppression or billionaire influence.

Founded in Sydney, Australia, it quickly gained traction, amassing over 2.5 million users by early 2026, with a significant surge in downloads following TikTok's restructuring of its US operations in late January.

The app's popularity peaked when it ranked highly on Apple's App Store, briefly surpassing TikTok in several markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

This influx of users, driven by allegations of censorship on TikTok after its US entity was acquired by American investors with ties to former political figures, overwhelmed UpScrolled's servers, causing temporary outages.

Users migrated en masse, citing privacy concerns and a desire for unfiltered content visibility.

Google Play suspended UpScrolled without providing a public explanation, leading to its unavailability for new downloads on Android devices.

Attempts to access the app's page on the Play Store result in a "not found" error, confirming the delisting. The move has sparked discussions among users and observers about potential motivations behind the move.

In response, UpScrolled issued a statement on X, humorously noting the timing with Valentine's Day while assuring users of their commitment to resolving the issue.

The company emphasized its collaboration with Google's Play Team but offered no timeline for reinstatement.

Founder Issam Hijazi has previously addressed content-related criticisms by pledging expansions to the moderation team and technological infrastructure to combat harmful material while upholding respectful discourse.