Washington (QNN)- TikTok users are flocking to a new platform founded by a Palestinian after Trump ally and pro-Israel Larry Ellison officially took over the app. The move follows TikTok’s announcement of a deal to create a new US entity, giving Ellison control over content policies and the power to shape an anti-Palestinian agenda.
Guy Christensen, a TikTok influencer with more than 3 million followers, wrote on X, “TikTok users are fleeing to a new upstart social media called **UpScrolled ** after Larry Ellison purchased the platform. UpScrolled is founded by a Palestinian and promises no censorship and no billionaires.”
He added, “Yesterday, it broke into the top 15 most downloaded apps.” Several activists and social media users have joined the app in recent days.
Sounds good, but I’m still cautious with this new social media platform and its owners.
An article about people leaving one capitalist entertainment platform designed to suck you dry of both time and money to go to another capitalist entertainment platform designed to suck you dry of both time and money that happens to be earlier along in the process, supported by quotes from people on a [checks notes] third capitalist entertainment platform designed to suck you dry of both time and money.
TikTokers will flock to anything except a platform that’s actually good for them (rember red note or what it was called)
Disclaimer: currently Upscrolled is a centralized platform which is only usable through an Android or IOS app and requires an account. They plan to release a browser based site in around 6 months They do have smooth video playback and no noticeable censorship so far.
good disclaimer. also, they aren’t open source, and from the tech background of the founder who self-funded it i doubt that he plans for it to ever be. in fact, among other cringe things on Issam Hijazi’s linkedin i see that he’s even worked for, enough to become an expert in the proprietary technology of, (checks notes) the very same zionist billionaire (paywall bypass) who just bought TikTok 😢
Also, one their FAQs is “Where does UpScrolled operate its servers and store data? Does it use Big Tech?”… the answer to which includes:
We do rely on some large-scale cloud providers at this stage — not because it’s our ideal, but because building fully independent infrastructure takes time. We’d rather be transparent about that than claim otherwise. Over time, we plan to reduce reliance on these providers and move toward greater independence.
… but We do rely on some is as far as their attempt at transparency took them - they aren’t actually saying which cloud providers they’re using or for what. (given the founder’s expertise i’d guess it’s probably AWS and/or Oracle.)
It’s a very mixed bag. In 2026 I’d prefer everyone decided on a single uncensored Mastodon server and just yolo’d over there but somehow the masses are moved once again towards a centralized solution. And a rather rudimentary one too.
But at least they decided on something besides Twitter or Bluesky. Now it all depends on whether the new influx of users can organically keep going and growing, or whether there is not enough content and everyone will slowly move back to Twitter.
There is backing from TechForPalestine and other pro-Palestine collectives so I don’t suspect that it’s a Zionist op. Just some unfortunate tech choices. But in the end it’s the users that make a platform not the tech. And one thing I do like is that there is a big download button next to media
