UpScrolled Surpasses 2.5M Users, Founder Reveals
▼ Summary
– UpScrolled, a social network blending features of Instagram and X, has rapidly grown to over 2.5 million users, with a significant surge following TikTok’s U.S. ownership change in January.
– The platform’s founder criticizes major tech companies for unethical data practices, selective censorship, and designing addictive features, positioning UpScrolled as an inclusive alternative.
– UpScrolled faces user complaints about hosting pornographic content but states it will establish community guidelines to comply with regional laws without using amplification algorithms to suppress views.
– The company is receiving investor interest but has not publicly announced any funding, and it is developing its moderation policies with expert input and user feedback.
– New social networks like UpScrolled and Skylight gained a short-term user boost from TikTok’s changes but must build features, community, and sustainable moderation policies to retain users long-term.
The social media platform UpScrolled has rapidly exceeded 2.5 million global users, a significant milestone announced by founder Issam Hijazi at Web Summit Qatar. This explosive growth follows the platform’s launch roughly six months ago, where it initially attracted 150,000 users before accelerating dramatically in recent months. Hijazi attributes part of this surge to broader shifts in the social media landscape, particularly changes in ownership at major platforms.
Hijazi described UpScrolled as a hybrid of Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), built on a principle of inclusivity. The company positions itself as a space for all voices, promising not to engage in shadowbanning or selective censorship of its users. During his presentation, Hijazi was openly critical of established tech giants, accusing them of unethical practices. He specifically charged that these companies prioritize profit over user privacy by selling personal data and design features that foster addiction, all while disregarding mental health impacts. He further alleged that major social networks have systematically suppressed pro-Palestinian content.
This commitment to minimal censorship has, however, led to user complaints from other platforms regarding the prevalence of pornographic and explicit material on UpScrolled. In response, Hijazi clarified the company’s stance. While UpScrolled will not use amplification algorithms to promote or bury specific viewpoints, it does intend to enforce community guidelines designed to comply with regional laws. He noted that the platform is currently assembling a team of experts to finalize these policies and is actively incorporating user feedback into the process. Although UpScrolled has not publicly disclosed any formal funding rounds, Hijazi confirmed growing interest from investors.
The platform’s rise coincides with a period of notable change for its competitors. The recent shift in TikTok’s U.S. ownership structure, which saw a consortium including Oracle and Silver Lake take a majority stake, prompted many users to explore alternative networks. In this environment, other emerging platforms like Skylight, built on the AT Protocol, also saw their user counts swell, surpassing 380,000. Observers note that while such events can provide a short-term boost, new networks face the enduring challenge of building compelling features and a sustainable community to retain their audience. They must also navigate the complex task of establishing content moderation policies, a balancing act that platforms like Bluesky have struggled with, often making unpopular decisions in the process.
(Source: TechCrunch)
