UpScrolled Tops App Charts With Ethics-First Approach

A social media platform designed to help you log off instead of keeping you hooked is topping app store charts across four countries, proving users are hungry for something different.

UpScrolled launched just last year and has already racked up millions of downloads worldwide. At Web Summit Qatar 2026, founder Issam Hijazi explained why his platform refuses to follow Big Tech's playbook.

"Big Tech over the last couple of years has proven they're not really in it for ethics," Hijazi told the opening night audience. "They prioritize 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."

The app looks familiar at first glance. Users can upload photos, videos, and text posts, scroll through content, and send direct messages just like Instagram or X. But the engine under the hood runs completely differently.

Other platforms make money by keeping users scrolling endlessly, Hijazi explained. UpScrolled does the opposite. The app is designed to let people engage meaningfully, then log off and return to their lives.

The platform also promises no algorithmic censorship or shadow bans. Hijazi pointed out that algorithms only work as well as the data and intentions behind them. "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," he said.

His comments arrive at a moment when trust in digital platforms is crumbling. The recent TikTok US deal, which shifted the app to majority American ownership for national security reasons, left many users worried about transparency and control over their online spaces.

The Ripple Effect: UpScrolled's rapid rise shows that ethical alternatives can compete with tech giants when they genuinely serve users instead of treating them as products. Investors who share Hijazi's vision are already reaching out, drawn to a mission that puts people first.

"There's a lot of ethical people around the world who want to be part of our journey," Hijazi said. "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."

The platform started as a response to widespread frustration with existing social media, and millions of users are voting with their downloads that they're ready for change.