## The Great Social Media Migration: Why Users Are Flocking to UpScrolled After TikTok’s Shake-Up
The digital landscape is in constant flux, and recent events surrounding TikTok’s U.S. operations have sent ripples throughout the social media ecosystem. As users grapple with concerns over new ownership and evolving policies, many are actively seeking platforms that promise a different ethos. Enter UpScrolled, a burgeoning social network rapidly capturing attention with its commitment to impartiality and user-centric design.
This alternative is not just gaining traction; it’s soaring up the charts, currently holding the 12th spot overall in Apple’s App Store and securing the number two position within the competitive social networking category. It seems a significant portion of the online community is ready for a change, and UpScrolled is positioning itself as a compelling answer.
### UpScrolled: A Fresh Perspective on Social Connection
In a world increasingly polarized, UpScrolled offers a familiar yet distinct digital haven. Imagine a platform that seamlessly blends the visual appeal of Instagram with the text-driven conversations of X (formerly Twitter). Users can effortlessly share photographs, videos, and written thoughts, discover diverse content, and engage in private dialogues through direct messages. It’s an intuitive experience designed to feel immediately comfortable to anyone accustomed to modern social media.
#### A Vision Rooted in User Empowerment
The genesis of UpScrolled can be traced back to last year, thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of Issam Hijazi, a technologist with Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian roots. His core motivation was to forge a digital space where individuals could “freely express thoughts, share moments, and connect with others,” a mission prominently displayed on the app’s official website. The team behind UpScrolled asserts their dedication to “building a platform that belongs to the people who use it — not to hidden algorithms or outside agendas.”
Hijazi himself articulates this ambitious vision: “UpScrolled is the foundation for a digital ecosystem that puts power back into the hands of the people — not the corporations.” He further emphasizes, “It’s more than just an alternative to Meta, X, or TikTok — it’s a reimagining of what social media should be: a space where creators, communities, and businesses thrive independently, with real control, transparency, and accountability.” This bold statement resonates deeply with a user base increasingly wary of corporate influence and opaque algorithms.
#### Riding the Wave: Rapid Growth and Scaling Challenges
Available for both iOS and Android devices, UpScrolled is currently experiencing an unprecedented influx of new users. While this surge is a testament to its growing appeal, it also presents significant scaling challenges, which the company is actively addressing.
Market intelligence provider Appfigures reveals the dramatic scale of this growth: approximately 41,000 new downloads occurred between last Thursday, the day the TikTok deal was finalized, and Saturday. This astonishing figure accounts for nearly one-third of the app’s total lifetime installations. Since Thursday, UpScrolled has sustained an average of around 14,000 daily downloads—a staggering 2,850% increase in daily activity. To date, the app has amassed 140,000 downloads, with a substantial 75,000 of those originating from the U.S.
The rapid expansion hasn’t been without its hiccups. The company candidly shared a post on Bluesky: “Well, this is new… You showed up so fast our servers tapped out. Frustrating? Yes. Emotional? Also yes. We’re a tiny team building what Big Tech stopped being. Right now we’re scaling on caffeine to keep up with what YOU started. Bear with us. We’re on it.” This transparent communication, acknowledging both the excitement and the struggles, likely further endears them to their burgeoning user base.
### The TikTok Tumult: Understanding the Exodus
The recent surge in UpScrolled’s popularity is directly linked to the turbulence surrounding TikTok. Last Thursday, TikTok announced a significant agreement with a consortium of non-Chinese investors, forming a new majority American-owned joint venture to ensure the app’s continued operation in the U.S. Under this new structure, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, retains less than 20% ownership, while three managing investors – Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment company MGX – each hold a 15% stake. This ownership shift, however, has ignited fresh concerns among users, particularly regarding potential political allegiances to former President Trump.
#### Unsettling Concerns: Censorship and Privacy
In the aftermath of the ownership change, a wave of accusations emerged, suggesting that TikTok might be censoring certain political content. These criticisms came from various high-profile individuals, including Senator Chris Murphy and pop star Billie Eilish, who voiced worries about the platform suppressing or limiting posts critical of ICE. Furthermore, some users reported difficulties in searching for information related to ongoing protests in Minneapolis following the killing of Alex Pretti by border patrol agents.
TikTok, however, attributed these reported issues to an ongoing data center outage that was impacting the app’s overall functionality.
Adding to the growing unease, TikTok also rolled out an updated privacy policy. This revision notably allows the app to track users’ GPS coordinates, among other personal data. This development prompted many users to actively encourage others to delete the app and explore alternatives. UpScrolled quickly rose to prominence as a preferred option, largely due to its explicit promise to avoid “shadowbanning” and ensure “every post a fair chance to be seen,” a direct contrast to the transparency issues plaguing larger platforms.
### Beyond UpScrolled: A Broader Shift in the Social Landscape
UpScrolled is not the sole beneficiary of this post-TikTok reshuffling. Skylight, another promising TikTok alternative built on open-source technology, has also reported impressive growth, now boasting over 380,000 sign-ups and showing no signs of slowing down.
This collective movement signifies a deeper trend: users are no longer content with simply accepting the status quo from tech giants. They are actively seeking platforms that prioritize transparency, user control, and freedom of expression, driving a fascinating evolution in the way we connect and share online. The demand for social media that truly serves its community, rather than corporate or political interests, has never been stronger.