Abscrolled: the dazzling success of the Palestinian application that is shaking up the social media giants
Abscrolled, a platform born from digital frustration
In a world where a few large companies dominate social networks, a new application is starting to make waves. Its name: Abscrolled, also called UpScrolled. Created by Palestinian technologist Issam Hijazi, this platform aims to offer another way of obtaining information, publishing and exchanging online.
Its objective is clear: to allow users to see and share content without being hampered by hidden algorithms, silent censorship or unclear rules. Abscrolled presents itself as a simple, readable and more honest alternative to platforms like TikTok, Instagram or X.
When the war against Gaza reveals censorship
The idea for Abscrolled was born in a very specific context. Since the start of the war against Gaza, many Internet users have noticed that content related to Palestine has become less and less visible on major social networks. Videos, testimonials, images or analyzes seemed to gradually disappear from news feeds.
Issam Hijazi says he was deeply affected by this phenomenon. As the number of casualties and destruction increased, online visibility decreased. For him, this discrepancy was not a coincidence. He saw this as proof that certain voices could be silenced without explanation, simply by algorithmic choices.
Break with the tech giants to build a globally supported alternative
Before launching Abscrolled, Issam Hijazi worked for large international technology companies. But faced with what he observed, he explains that he felt a deep unease. He felt like he was participating in a system that limited access to information and suppressed certain realities. He then makes a radical decision: leave big tech and create his own platform. Abscrolled is thus developed without billionaire investors, without hedge funds and without massive advertising campaigns. The project is supported by Technology for Palestine, a global coalition of engineers and entrepreneurs committed to fairer and more ethical technologies.
Abscrolled focuses on simplicity. The application offers two main threads. The first, called “Following”, displays publications from followed accounts in chronological order. In other words, the user actually sees what they have chosen to follow. The second thread, “Discover”, highlights popular content, with a slight variation to avoid the same accounts always dominating. The platform claims not to promote any political or commercial agenda and promises humane, clear and limited moderation of illegal or hateful content.
— Issam Hijazi (@iHijazi) October 6, 2025
A meteoric rise driven by distrust and a moving human story
For several months, Abscrolled remained little known. But the situation changed suddenly after the upheavals surrounding TikTok in the United States, particularly linked to its change in ownership structure. Many users then start looking for alternatives.
Within days, Abscrolled climbed the App Store download charts in the US, UK and Australia. The app even surpasses TikTok and Discord in some categories. More than 100,000 new users join in 24 hours, causing temporary slowdowns due to the massive influx. Behind this technological project, there is also a painful personal story. Issam Hijazi lost more than 60 members of his family in Gaza. This tragedy gives Abscrolled a strong human dimension, well beyond a simple application.
Without presenting itself as an activist platform, Abscrolled embodies a desire: that of creating a digital space where everyone can express themselves without fear of erasure or imposed silence. Its success shows one thing above all: more and more users are looking for more transparent, fairer and more respectful social networks. An expectation that the digital giants can no longer ignore,
