Background: TikTok’s US Transition
A years‑long saga over TikTok’s future in the United States concluded when a U.S.-based joint venture took over the app’s operations. The handover, however, has been anything but seamless.
Technical Glitches Spark Exodus
Within a week of the transition, users reported widespread technical glitches and service disruptions. The instability, combined with concerns about the new owners’ ties to the current administration, prompted many to search for alternative short‑form video platforms.
Introducing UpScrolled
UpScrolled, launched only seven months ago, quickly rose to prominence. Developed by Australian‑based Recursive Methods and founded by Jordan‑born developer Issam Hijazi, the app hit the top of the App Store rankings, sitting just behind ChatGPT.
Growth Milestones
Yesterday Hijazi posted a video celebrating 1 million users, thanking the community for its rapid growth. Key milestones include:
- Release: 7 months ago
- Last App Store update: 2 Nov 2025
- Current ranking: #2 in the App Store
- 1 million users reached within a month of TikTok’s glitches
Implications for the Social Media Landscape
While TikTok’s massive user base (≈2 billion) remains dominant, the episode underscores how even entrenched platforms can lose favor after a few missteps. A relatively small subset of users—when multiplied by billions—creates a sizable opportunity for newcomers like UpScrolled and other competitors.