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- UpScrolled’s explosive user growth after the TikTok shake-up
- How UpScrolled taps into social media fatigue and trust gaps
- Content freedom, community guidelines, and the moderation dilemma
- Monetization, investors, and the path to platform expansion
- What UpScrolled’s surge reveals about the future of social networks
- Practical checklist for brands and creators exploring UpScrolled
- Who is the founder of UpScrolled and what is his vision?
- How fast did UpScrolled grow to 2.5 million users?
- What makes UpScrolled different from other social media platforms?
- How does UpScrolled handle moderation and explicit content?
- Is UpScrolled funded, and how might it monetize in the future?
When a six‑month‑old social network suddenly jumps from 150,000 accounts to more than 2.5 million users, something in the attention economy is shifting. UpScrolled’s breakout moment is not only about user numbers; it exposes how frustrated people have become with opaque algorithms, data selling, and selective moderation.
UpScrolled’s explosive user growth after the TikTok shake-up
UpScrolled’s rise began quietly, then accelerated dramatically once TikTok’s ownership structure in the United States changed. As investors such as Silver Lake and Oracle took a controlling stake and ByteDance moved into a minority position, many TikTok creators started exploring alternatives. That timing proved decisive for UpScrolled, which had been slowly building a base of around 150,000 users across its first months.
Founder Issam Hijazi revealed at Web Summit Qatar that this plateau did not last. Early January marked a turning point: UpScrolled crossed the one million users threshold, and only days later the social network surged beyond 2.5 million users worldwide. This pattern of growth mirrors historic moments in Social Media, when users quickly migrate following platform uncertainty. Studies compiled by sources such as recent social media statistics over several years show that audiences are willing to move whenever they sense instability or distrust.
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A tech startup positioned between Instagram and X
UpScrolled presents itself as a hybrid between Instagram’s visual storytelling and X’s real-time discourse. The interface encourages image and video sharing, yet also highlights short textual updates and threaded discussions. This blend appeals to creators like Amina, a fictional photographer-activist who needs both a visual gallery and a space for nuanced commentary. She can publish a striking photo series while running an in-depth debate under the same post, without feeling trapped in a single content format.
According to Hijazi, the platform aspires to be inclusive of all voices and promises no shadowbanning or hidden demotion of posts. That statement differentiates UpScrolled in a crowded field where many users suspect invisible ranking penalties. Comparisons with established giants are inevitable; reports from major social network user rankings underline how difficult it is for a new entrant to stand out. UpScrolled’s early momentum suggests that positioning around transparency and voice diversity resonates more than another generic feed.
How UpScrolled taps into social media fatigue and trust gaps
Behind UpScrolled’s traction lies a broader weariness with mainstream Social Media practices. Hijazi openly criticizes big tech platforms for trading user data for profit, designing addictive interfaces, and tolerating misinformation when it serves engagement metrics. Many people have internalized that critique over the last decade, yet alternatives rarely offered a convincing product experience. UpScrolled tries to pair ethical messaging with a familiar, fast, and visually appealing app, giving users like Amina a path to leave without sacrificing reach.
Trust gaps are amplified by perceived political bias and inconsistent moderation. Hijazi has accused major platforms of suppressing pro‑Palestinian content and applying rules in an uneven manner. Independent research, such as overviews on global social media research, often highlights regional and political discrepancies in visibility. Whether every claim is correct is less significant than the perception: many users already feel unheard, so a network explicitly promising equal treatment gains narrative power, especially in highly polarized topics.
Reduced algorithmic influence and chronological feeds
One of UpScrolled’s core design choices is to reduce heavy algorithmic amplification and prioritize chronological feeds. Posts appear primarily in the order they are published, with less emphasis on opaque ranking signals. For users, this makes the digital community feel more predictable. When Amina publishes a photo series on a sensitive subject, she knows that followers will actually see it based on time, not on an unpredictable engagement formula that might bury it.
Chronological feeds do have trade-offs. They can feel chaotic during peak activity, and they place pressure on users in different time zones. However, they also diminish the incentive to craft outrage-bait posts purely to trigger algorithmic rewards. Instead of chasing virality at any cost, creators focus on consistent interactions with their own networks. That shift may not generate the highest possible engagement spikes, yet it fosters steadier, more intentional User Engagement that aligns with UpScrolled’s long-term Platform Expansion plans.
Content freedom, community guidelines, and the moderation dilemma
UpScrolled’s promise of broad content tolerance comes with predictable challenges. Users on competing platforms have already raised concerns about the presence of porn and explicit material. Hijazi responds by stressing two boundaries: the platform does not rely on secretive amplification algorithms to hide unpopular views, yet it must comply with local laws and build community guidelines that are clear and enforceable. This tension between openness and safety sits at the heart of every modern Social Network strategy.
The company is assembling a group of policy experts and listening to user feedback to refine these rules. For professionals like Amina, who documents protests and human rights issues, that process matters. She wants enough freedom to show reality without sudden takedowns, but she also cares about not exposing her followers to illegal or abusive content. UpScrolled’s approach acknowledges that nuance by promising case-by-case evaluation, rather than blunt filters that erase whole topics under the label of “sensitivity.”
Lessons from other emerging platforms
UpScrolled is not the only Tech Startup that benefited from the TikTok reorganization. An AT Protocol-based service called Skylight reportedly crossed several hundred thousand users shortly after the deal, demonstrating that audiences are experimenting with multiple alternatives. At the same time, earlier players like Bluesky have learned how quickly goodwill erodes when moderation choices appear inconsistent or slow. These examples form a cautionary backdrop for UpScrolled as it scales its Digital Community.
Industry data from sources such as recent social media statistics research indicates that user expectations around safety and speech are diverging. Some communities demand maximal expression, others require rigorous filtering. UpScrolled’s challenge is to avoid over-correction in either direction. If guidelines are too lax, regulators and advertisers may step back. If they are too strict, the platform loses the very voices that fueled its early adoption. Sustainable User Growth will depend on executing this delicate balance better than predecessors.
Monetization, investors, and the path to platform expansion
UpScrolled has not yet disclosed formal funding rounds, yet Hijazi confirms strong investor interest. That interest is unsurprising when global Social Media already surpasses billions of active participants and represents a major share of digital ad spending. Analysts compiling overviews for outlets such as business-focused social media statistics repeatedly emphasize how even modest share in this market can support sizable valuations. Investors see in UpScrolled a narrative of ethics, speed, and user migration catalyzed by geopolitical and regulatory shifts.
However, capital alone will not guarantee Platform Expansion. The monetization model must align with the founder’s criticism of data selling and addictive design. That likely points to a mix of contextual, less invasive advertising, subscription tools for creators, and maybe enterprise features for organizations that value transparent distribution. For Amina, the key question becomes whether she can earn income from her audience without compromising their privacy or being pressured into constant outrage content. UpScrolled’s product roadmap will signal where the platform truly stands.
Key strategic priorities for sustainable growth
As the user base crosses several million users, UpScrolled faces a familiar scaling checklist. Infrastructure must handle traffic spikes when high-profile accounts join or global events unfold. Moderation tools need to evolve from ad hoc decisions into reproducible processes. Analytics dashboards should help creators understand their reach without overwhelming them with metrics that encourage unhealthy behavior. Each of these elements impacts whether new arrivals stay beyond the initial curiosity phase.
For teams managing their presence across networks, UpScrolled’s trajectory suggests a few priorities worth tracking. Early adopters may secure stronger visibility and direct relationships before more aggressive monetization appears. Brands interested in socially aware audiences might find early campaigns here yield higher authenticity. Yet they must also prepare contingency plans if the platform changes course under investor pressure. Strategic patience, combined with careful experimentation, will help organizations translate UpScrolled’s momentum into concrete outcomes.
What UpScrolled’s surge reveals about the future of social networks
UpScrolled’s jump to more than 2.5 Million Users within months offers a real-time case study of how quickly sentiment can shift. When a familiar giant like TikTok undergoes structural change, users do not simply wait; they search for spaces where they feel more respected and more visible. This behavior aligns with broader multi-platform usage trends reported by analysts at sources such as influencer and social media statistics hubs, where people distribute their attention across several communities instead of committing to a single home.
For professionals navigating this environment, the primary lesson is clear: do not treat any platform as permanent infrastructure. UpScrolled might become a lasting pillar of the Social Media landscape or remain a transitional stop for a generation wary of surveillance capitalism. Its emphasis on chronological feeds, lighter algorithms, and open criticism of incumbents positions it as a test case for a more human-centered engagement model. Whether that model scales to tens of millions will shape how future founders design their own networks.
Practical checklist for brands and creators exploring UpScrolled
Anyone evaluating UpScrolled today can follow a simple sequence to make sense of the opportunity and risks. Starting with a small, focused presence helps avoid overcommitment while still benefiting from early growth dynamics. Observing how moderation and monetization evolve over the next product cycles will reveal whether the founder’s promises hold under pressure from investors and regulators.
The following practical steps can guide your first months on the platform:
- Reserve your handle early and align it with existing brand identities across other networks.
- Repurpose your most context-rich content, such as explainers or behind-the-scenes posts, to test engagement quality.
- Monitor how often your followers report actually seeing your updates in their chronological feeds.
- Engage in comment threads to evaluate the tone of the Digital Community and potential for constructive debates.
- Track any policy changes, transparency reports, or investor announcements that might signal shifts in strategy.
Who is the founder of UpScrolled and what is his vision?
UpScrolled was founded by Issam Hijazi, who envisions a social network that minimizes opaque algorithms, avoids shadowbanning, and resists the practice of selling user data for profit. His stated goal is to build a platform where a wide range of voices can be heard within clear, law-compliant community guidelines, rather than one optimised purely for addictive engagement.
How fast did UpScrolled grow to 2.5 million users?
UpScrolled launched roughly six months before its breakout moment. According to Hijazi, the platform grew to about 150,000 users by early January, then quickly crossed one million users and, within a few days, surged beyond two and a half million users globally. This acceleration coincided with ownership changes at TikTok in the United States, which pushed many people to explore alternative networks.
What makes UpScrolled different from other social media platforms?
UpScrolled combines visual sharing similar to Instagram with real-time conversations reminiscent of X, yet emphasizes chronological feeds and reduced algorithmic amplification. The platform publicly rejects shadowbanning and selective visibility for political content, and seeks to create transparent community guidelines rather than relying on hard-to-understand recommendation systems that prioritize virality above all else.
How does UpScrolled handle moderation and explicit content?
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The company allows a broader range of content than some competitors but commits to respecting local laws and maintaining basic safety standards. Hijazi acknowledges criticism regarding porn and nudity and has stated that UpScrolled is assembling a team of experts and listening to user feedback to refine its rules. The approach aims to balance expression and protection without relying solely on hidden algorithmic suppression.
Is UpScrolled funded, and how might it monetize in the future?
UpScrolled has not announced public funding rounds, though Hijazi reports considerable investor interest. The platform is expected to explore revenue models that do not rely on selling personal data, potentially involving less intrusive advertising, creator-focused tools, and subscription-style features. The exact mix is still evolving, and observers are watching whether commercial pressures will remain aligned with the founder’s public commitments.
