| UpScrolled | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | UpScrolled |
| Initial release | June 2025 |
| Operating system | Android, iOS |
| Type | Social media |
| Website | upscrolled |
| UpScrolled | |
UpScrolled is an Australian social media platform for microblogging and short-form online video sharing that was launched in June 2025 by Recursive Methods Pty Ltd. It was founded by Issam Hijazi.
UpScrolled was launched in June 2025 by Recursive Methods Pty Ltd. [1] [2] It was founded by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Australian app developer who previously worked for IBM and Oracle. [2] [3] UpScrolled is backed by the Tech for Palestine incubator. [4]
Hijazi told Rest of World that he launched UpScrolled in response to Israel's genocide in Gaza which followed the October 7 attacks on Israel. He said, "I couldn't take it anymore. I lost family members in Gaza, and I didn't want to be complicit. So I was like, I'm done with this, I want to feel useful. I found this gap in the market, with a lot of people asking why there is no alternative to the Big Tech platforms for their content, which was getting censored." [4]
In January 2026, UpScrolled saw increased attention and number of downloads after the acquisition of TikTok by a group of pro-Donald Trump US investors, including Larry Ellison, which led to calls to boycott TikTok and migrate to other apps. [5] [3] UpScrolled subsequently climbed to the top 10 of Apple's App Store list of free apps. [5] The app saw a reported 2,850% increase in downloads between 22 and 24 January 2026. [3] As of 27 January 2026, UpScrolled "had been downloaded about 400,000 times in the US and 700,000 globally since launching in June 2025". [6]
UpScrolled's algorithm allows users to discover posts based on likes, comments, and shares with time decay and some randomness, all chronologically, with "no manipulation" according to the app's website. [2] UpScrolled has an interface resembling a mix of Instagram and X, allowing users to post and view text posts, photos, and videos. It also lets users send private messages to each other. [7]
UpScrolled says that it is against censorship and shadow banning, and describes itself as "belong[ing] to the people who use it — not to hidden algorithms or outside agendas". [8] [4] Hijazi said, "The other platforms claim to be free speech platforms. But when it comes to anything on Palestine, that’s a different story." [4]
The app is currently available for iOS and Android devices, with plans to upscale. [3]
The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) praised UpScrolled for "pledging to protect the free flow of ideas on its platform, including both support for and opposition to the Israeli government's human rights abuses." [9]