By Sharifah Fadhilah Alshahab
Published on
Launched last year, social media platform UpScrolled has already amassed millions of global downloads. Today, the app sits at the top of several app store rankings in multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Speaking at the opening night of Web Summit Qatar, UpScrolled founder Issam Hijazi pointed to a new age of social media, where he outlined his vision for building a platform that Big Tech won’t.
“Big Tech over the last couple of years has proven they’re not really in it for ethics. They prioritise profit over people, they sell user data, they design platforms to keep you addicted, and they don’t really care about your mental health or wellbeing,” Hijazi said
Similar to platforms such as Instagram and X, UpScrolled allows users to upload photos, videos, and text posts, scroll through content, and send direct messages. But Hijazi insisted the app is fundamentally different.
“Other platforms are designed to have us as the product because we are generating money for them,” Hijazi said.
“They designed the algorithm to keep you on the platform itself, scrolling without any value. We don’t do that. We designed Upscroll to let people log off.”
While adhering to legal guidelines, Hijazi’s platform also promises freedom of expression, no algorithmic censorship and shadow bans, offering an alternative approach to digital engagement at a time when confidence in digital platforms is being widely debated.
Following the finalisation of TikTok’s US deal, the platform will see a majority American ownership aimed to safeguard national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances, but the move has made TikTok users concerned about transparency and their autonomy online. The deal amplified questions about who ultimately controls digital platforms.
“We cannot keep blaming the algorithm or the technology because there are people who are building this technology and the algorithm. The algorithm is just as good as the data that you feed it with,” Hijazi said.
“Behind the scenes, there are certain people who train this algorithm to flag things that don’t really go well with their propagandas or agendas. So they amplify certain things, they suppress other things,” he added.
Even as power consolidates among tech giants, the rapid switch from mainstream social media and the quick adoption of UpScrolled highlight that there is space for newcomers responding to users’ wants, with Hijazi saying the platform has drawn interest from investors aligned with its direction.
“There’s a lot of ethical people around the world who want to be part of our journey. And we’re fortunate to have a lot of good people reaching out to us and they want to be part of our mission and our vision and what we’re trying to build,” Hijazi said
UpScrolled began as an answer to widespread frustrations with existing social media platforms, and Hijazi hopes to maintain the meteoric momentum by continuing to improve and enhance the overall experience of the platform, and be the platform for the people.
