He Started a Social Network Alone. Then 5 Million People Signed Up.

Wired · Katie Drummond · last updated April 7, 2026 – 2:34 AM

Issam Hijazi launched UpScrolled after users alleged censorship on other platforms. Nine months later, its user base is soaring—while Hijazi tries to catch up with his own success.

If you haven’t heard of UpScrolled before, a brief primer: It’s a social media platform not too different from, say, Instagram or TikTok. You can share photos or short videos, follow accounts, comment on posts, and amass a following of your own. Nothing too earth-shattering, right?

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