When Issam Hijazi launched the UpScrolled social network, he did so as a company of one. There were no venture capital rounds, no sprawling engineering teams, and no Silicon Valley marketing machine. Yet, within a remarkably short window, the platform surged from a solo project to a community of more than 5 million users.
The rapid ascent of UpScrolled is less a story of technical innovation and more one of ideological alignment. While the platform functions similarly to Instagram or TikTok—allowing users to share photos, post short-form videos, and build followings—its architecture is a deliberate rejection of the “Big Tech” playbook. Hijazi, who is of Palestinian descent, designed the platform as a sanctuary for users who felt their voices were being systematically silenced on mainstream apps.
Central to the platform’s appeal is a promise of transparency. UpScrolled utilizes a chronological feed, eschewing the opaque algorithms that typically dictate what a user sees. The company vows not to sell user data to marketing firms or commercial enterprises, and explicitly pledges “never” to covertly suppress content, provided it adheres to the community guidelines.
A Departure from Silicon Valley Norms
The growth of the UpScrolled social network coincided with a period of intense volatility for other platforms. In February, just eight months after its launch, the app had already reached 2.5 million users. This spike occurred alongside widespread public anxiety regarding TikTok’s complex relationship with the U.S. Government and discussions surrounding a U.S.-based version of the company controlled by American investors.
For many, UpScrolled offered more than just a new place to scroll; it offered a political statement. Hijazi founded the platform in response to allegations that major social media companies were “shadow-banning” or censoring pro-Palestinian content. By removing the algorithmic “black box,” Hijazi aimed to ensure that content reached followers without being throttled by corporate moderation policies.
However, this overtly ideological approach has set the platform apart from the typical “neutral” stance adopted by tech founders. In a move that underscores his commitment to the platform’s roots, Hijazi stated that he “personally” ensured users could not select Israel as a location when using the service.
From Corporate Engineering to Ideological Activism
Hijazi’s path to solo founder was paved by nearly two decades in the upper echelons of the tech industry. He began coding at the age of 12 and spent 17.5 years working for some of the world’s most influential technology firms, including IBM, Oracle, and Hitachi, as well as various startups.
For years, these roles represented the pinnacle of professional achievement. But according to Hijazi, the internal mechanics of these corporations eventually became untenable. He described a growing sense of complicity, arguing that these companies provided the infrastructure, knowledge, and surveillance technology used by countries like Israel, which he linked to the “genocide in Gaza.”
These companies have been complicit in bad things that are happening around the world… Personally, I felt complicit just working for them, and I wanted out.
This moral break led Hijazi to leave the corporate world and build a platform that mirrored his own ethical requirements: one that prioritized user agency over advertiser profit and political transparency over corporate diplomacy.
The Friction of Rapid Scaling
Growing a platform from zero to 5 million users as a solo developer is a technical feat, but managing that growth is a sociological challenge. As UpScrolled has scaled, Hijazi has had to rapidly expand his team to handle the immense pressure of content moderation.
The platform has recently arrive under scrutiny from organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The organization alleges that UpScrolled does not do enough to identify and remove antisemitic and extremist content, suggesting that the platform’s commitment to non-suppression may inadvertently provide a haven for hate speech.
The tension facing UpScrolled is a microcosm of the broader debate surrounding the modern internet: the conflict between absolute free expression and the necessity of safety moderation. While Hijazi maintains that the platform will not covertly suppress content, the pressure to “stomp out” extremist material increases as the user base grows.
| Feature | Mainstream Big Tech | UpScrolled |
|---|---|---|
| Feed Logic | Algorithmic/Engagement-based | Chronological |
| Data Privacy | Monetized via Ad Networks | No commercial data sharing |
| Content Logic | Centralized Moderation/Shadow-banning | Transparent Guidelines/No covert suppression |
| Ownership | Publicly Traded/VC Backed | Founder-led |
As the platform continues to expand, the next critical phase for UpScrolled will be the professionalization of its moderation systems. Hijazi’s ability to balance his ideological commitment to “uncensored” speech with the legal and ethical demands of managing millions of users will determine if the platform remains a viable alternative or becomes a casualty of its own rapid growth.
The company is expected to provide further updates on its content moderation frameworks as it scales its internal team to meet the needs of its growing global audience.
Do you sense chronological feeds are the future of social media, or are algorithms necessary for discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
