The app, which has seen explosive global growth, announced the suspension in a statement highlighting its unexpected user surge and efforts to address guideline violations.

"We have achieved unexpected growth in volume. During this process, we have faced challenges in managing content that violates our community guidelines. Although we are a platform that defends freedom of expression, we are aware of our obligation to remove illegal content," the statement explained.

In response to the suspension, UpScrolled expanded its moderation team and is developing an advanced system to ensure compliance.

The platform expressed full cooperation with Google's team, anticipating a swift return to the store by adhering to legal standards.

This development follows accusations of censorship against TikTok, particularly regarding pro-Palestine and anti-Israel voices.

UpScrolled, created by Hijazi, skyrocketed from 150,000 users to millions in one week, drawing attention as a digital alternative amid backlash against mainstream apps.

TikTok users have disclosed the platform shadow bans content supporting Palestine or criticizing Israel.

Oracle's acquisition of TikTok's US operations, led by pro-Israel executive Larry Ellison, has fueled these concerns.

Additionally, TikTok faced allegations of suppressing content against US President Donald Trump during Minnesota protests.

Shifting to background on UpScrolled's rise, the app has gained traction in countries like the US as users seek alternatives to TikTok, now under US-backed control with Ellison's involvement raising fears of pro-Palestine censorship.

TikTok's ban of Gaza journalist Bisan Owda and accusations of content suppression around US immigration enforcement have intensified boycott calls.

Founded in July 2025, UpScrolled topped US app downloads, ranking first in Apple's social networking category and among top apps in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

The platform, blending features of X and Instagram, emphasizes text and photo posts, with its Discover Page dominated by Palestine-related content showing Gaza's suffering and solidarity.

Notable users include labor activist Chris Smalls and actor Jacob Berger, both participants in the 2025 Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

Hijazi, a former Oracle and IBM employee, launched the app through Tech for Palestine, motivated by Israel's criminal actions in Gaza, labeled genocide by a UN inquiry, and widespread content censorship.

"I couldn’t take it anymore,” Hijazi said. “I lost family members in Gaza, and I didn’t want to be complicit. So I was like, I’m done with this, I want to feel useful. I found this gap in the market, with a lot of people asking why there is no alternative to the Big Tech platforms for their content, which was getting censored. So I thought, why don’t we build our own? I just rolled up my sleeves and built it,” he said.

UpScrolled moderates only illegal content, uses a chronological feed, and avoids addictive algorithms to protect users' mental health.

By late January 2026, downloads reached 400,000 in the US and 700,000 globally, surging after TikTok's US deal, with server crashes from the influx but subsequent fixes.