TikTok Faces Backlash as Users Migrate to UpScrolled Over Censorship Concerns

The social media world is witnessing another major shake-up. As TikTok faces backlash over alleged political censorship following its U.S. ownership transition, a rising competitor UpScrolled is rapidly gaining attention, downloads, and users looking for a more transparent platform.

The surge reflects growing distrust among creators, activists, and everyday users who believe their voices are being restricted on TikTok after recent policy and ownership changes.

UpScrolled Climbs App Store Rankings

UpScrolled, a short-form social media platform offering video creation, editing tools, and text-based posts, has quickly climbed the Apple App Store charts. As of Monday afternoon, the app ranked No. 9 among free apps, surpassing TikTok, and reached No. 2 in the social networking category.

The influx of users was so sudden that UpScrolled’s servers briefly crashed. In a statement shared on Instagram, the company thanked new users and described itself as an “alternative to platforms that stopped listening,” reinforcing its stance as a creator-first social network.

What’s Driving the TikTok Backlash?

The migration away from TikTok follows its recent U.S. spin-off to comply with a 2024 federal law requiring separation from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The newly formed U.S. entity is now owned by Oracle, MGX, and Silver Lake a move that has unsettled many users due to perceived political ties.

Shortly after the transition, creators began reporting that videos criticizing Donald Trump, ICE, and U.S. immigration policies were being limited or delayed. Some users also noticed certain terms being blocked in direct messages, fueling concerns about increased content moderation and suppression.

TikTok attributed delays in content visibility to a power outage at a U.S. data center, but skepticism remains. Public figures such as Sen. Chris Murphy, Billie Eilish, and Finneas O’Connell have openly questioned the platform’s neutrality, with Murphy calling the situation a threat to democratic discourse.

What Is UpScrolled?

Launched in June, UpScrolled was founded by Issam Hijazi, a former IBM and Oracle employee. The idea emerged after Hijazi noticed that meaningful content was being buried while misinformation continued to thrive on major platforms.

UpScrolled positions itself as a platform with:

• No censorship

• No shadowbanning

• No algorithmic favoritism

According to the company, posts are only restricted if they violate community guidelines, such as content involving illegal activity, hate speech, harassment, or bullying.

How UpScrolled’s Algorithm Stands Apart

UpScrolled emphasizes transparency and fairness in content distribution:

• Following Feed: Displays posts chronologically without algorithmic manipulation

• Discover Feed: Ranks posts by engagement likes, comments, and reshares using light time decay and randomness to ensure new creators are seen

This structure is designed to give every post a genuine chance to reach an audience.

Creators and Activists Voice Their Concerns

For many users, TikTok’s changes feel deeply personal. Activist Jamira Burley described the platform as a “trap door,” where creators can no longer trust that their work or safety is protected.

She warned that marginalized communities including Black, queer, disabled, poor, and creative voices are often the first to be affected when platform policies shift under political and corporate pressure.

“Our communities are bigger than any one app,” Burley wrote. “We can bring that magic somewhere else.”

Is a Larger TikTok Exodus Coming?

In 2025, TikTok users staged mock “funerals” as the app faced a potential U.S. ban. Now, with new ownership and renewed censorship concerns, history appears to be repeating itself this time driven by trust issues rather than access.

UpScrolled’s rapid rise suggests that users are increasingly drawn to slower, more intentional social platforms built around transparency and community rather than algorithms and clout.

Whether UpScrolled can maintain its momentum remains to be seen, but its sudden popularity highlights a broader shift in how users view power, control, and free expression in social media.

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