UpScrolled App Review: A New Social Platform Breaking Digital Censorship

Since October 8, 2023, the war that Israel has been waging against Gaza has not only targeted people's lives and buildings, but it has also affected how truth is shared online.

While Palestinians were recording the destruction of their lives through videos and photos, they also faced a hidden battle on social media.
Big platforms used their systems to remove content, limit its visibility, and silence Palestinian voices through secret rules.

This effort to silence Palestinians wasn't just a mistake—it was a clear attempt to cut them off from the world and strip them of one of the most powerful tools of the modern age.


Because of this, there was a need for a new platform that could break through the information block and give a space where people could share without being controlled by money or politics.


That's how the "UpScrolled" app was created at the end of 2023 and the start of 2024.
It was designed as a response to the restrictions put on Palestinian content by big platforms like Meta and TikTok.

Behind this project is Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Australian tech expert who has worked at companies like IBM and Oracle.
He developed the app after his personal accounts were blocked and after he lost several family members in Gaza, in order to build a space that is free from political pressure.

UpScrolled works like a short video sharing app, similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels, but with a key difference in how it handles content.
While other platforms block certain types of political or humanitarian content, UpScrolled uses an open system that shows content based on what users are interested in and how they interact with it. It doesn't block words related to humanitarian or political topics.

Within a few months, the app became very popular and made it into the top downloaded apps on Apple and Google.
It ranked 11th in the US and 12th in the UK.

This popularity shows how much people around the world want platforms where they can speak freely, especially as digital control over information about human rights and justice grows.


UpScrolled isn't just an entertainment app; it's a project that supports the idea of digital democracy.


Issam Hijazi used the slogan, "The voice of Palestine will never be restricted," and spread this message to people who are oppressed or ignored online.


This app is an example of using science and technology as a way to peacefully resist, breaking through borders and reaching global awareness without being controlled by surveillance.


With support from the US, Israel launched a two-year war on Gaza starting in 2023, killing over 71,000 Palestinians and injuring more than 171,000—mostly children and women.


The war has destroyed nearly 90% of Gaza’s civilian buildings, and the UN has estimated the cost of rebuilding Gaza at about seven billion dollars.
Around 1.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes.

By February 2, 2026, UpScrolled had reached 2.5 million users.
According to the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, it has become the most downloaded social media app in the US and Canada, with growing interest in the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.

UpScrolled's algorithm helps users find posts based on likes, comments, and shares, with time-based changes and some randomness, all shown in order.
According to the app's website, there's no interference.

The app looks like a mix of Instagram and Twitter, letting users share text, photos, and videos.
It also allows private messaging. It's available for iOS and Android, with plans to expand further.