Why Millions Are Ditching TikTok for UpScrolled Right Now: Here's What You Need To Know

Jessica Santero Staff Writer

Updated 27 January 2026

UpScrolled surges as TikTok users jump ship

TikTok users are migrating from the app amid censorship allegations following the platform's change of ownership.
UpScrolled now beats TikTok on Apple's App Store rankings, sitting one spot above its competitor.
UpScrolled offers transparent algorithms with no shadowbans or hidden content throttling.
The platform's servers crashed on January 26, 2026, due to overwhelming new signups.

UpScrolled has emerged as the top alternative to TikTok, surging to No. 9 on Apple's App Store as of January 27, 2026. The platform now ranks one spot above TikTok itself among free apps, and sits at No. 2 on the social networking chart.

The migration has been so massive that UpScrolled's servers crashed on Monday, January 26. The platform posted on Instagram that new users "showed up so fast our servers tapped out."

The timing coincides with mounting concerns about TikTok following its handover to new U.S. ownership last week. Users are reporting widespread content censorship in these politically charged times, prompting many to seek alternatives that promise transparency and fair content distribution.

What is UpScrolled?

UpScrolled is a social media platform that launched in June 2025. According to its founder, the app's inspiration came from the observation that meaningful content was quickly disappearing from social media feeds while misinformation thrived. The platform was designed to counter this trend with transparent content distribution and fair visibility for all creators.

The platform supports several key features:

Short-form videos
Video editing tools
Text posts
Photo sharing

UpScrolled's core promise is transparency. Every post has a fair chance to be seen, with no shadowbans or hidden throttling.

UpScrolled offers transparent feeds with no hidden manipulation.
Image: Google Play Store

When was TikTok sold? And who bought it?

TikTok was officially sold to a new owner in January 2026. This came in response to a 2024 federal law requiring TikTok to separate its U.S. app from Chinese company ByteDance.

The new owners include:

Oracle, a major technology corporation.
MGX, an Emirati investment company.
Silver Lake, a California-based investment company.

Within days of the ownership transfer, users began reporting widespread content suppression and account restrictions. The new ownership structure has raised concerns about potential censorship and changes to content moderation policies.

How is UpScrolled different from TikTok?

Unlike TikTok's recommendation system, UpScrolled offers two distinct feeds with clear rules:

Following feed: Posts from accounts you follow appear in chronological order with no algorithmic manipulation. The content is shown based purely on when it was posted.
Discover feed: Posts are ranked by engagement metrics with a light decline over time so fresh content can rise. Randomness is also built in to ensure all posts have a chance to appear in your feed.

The only content UpScrolled restricts is material that violates community guidelines, including illegal activity, hate speech, bullying, and harassment.

Why users are leaving TikTok

The rapid migration to UpScrolled reflects growing concerns about TikTok's direction. Multiple factors have converged to shake user trust in the platform, with the ownership change serving as a breaking point for many.

Does TikTok censor content?

Following the ownership transfer to Oracle, MGX, and Silver Lake, users immediately began reporting content suppression. Videos covering politically sensitive topics were allegedly being removed or shadowbanned in these politically charged times.

However, TikTok has openly reported that it doesn't censor content. TikTok responded to criticism with a statement explaining that a power outage at a U.S. data center caused posts to take longer to publish and appear in feeds. That said, many users remained (and still remain) skeptical given the timing and pattern of affected content.

Algorithm changes impact creator reach

Beyond the censorship allegations, TikTok has made significant changes to how content is distributed.

The pattern has been particularly noticeable among established creators with large followings. Even an average creator as myself has noticed the hit to both views and interactions. This has pushed many creators to diversify their platforms or leave TikTok entirely.

Unlimited data for unlimited scrolling

Video apps like UpScrolled consume significant mobile data. Make sure your phone plan can keep up with your content habits without surprise overage charges.

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Make the switch to UpScrolled

Switching to UpScrolled is simple. All you have to do is:

1. Download the app for Android or iOS.

I downloaded UpScrolled from the Google Play Store.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut

2. Open the app and tap "Create an account".

Tap "Create an account" to get started with UpScrolled.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut

3. Enter your personal details and choose a password.

Fill in your email, password, and basic account information.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut

4. Tap in the verification code that was sent to your email.

5. Choose an @handle.

Select your unique handle to complete your UpScrolled profile.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut

UpScrolled: FAQs

Is Upscrolled really more private than TikTok?

In short, yes. Upscrolled doesn't collect biometric data, doesn't track your activity outside the app, and doesn't sell your information to third parties.

Will Upscrolled have the same content as TikTok?

The platform is growing rapidly, with many TikTok creators cross-posting their content. You'll find similar content categories including comedy, cooking, education, and DIY content, though the community is developing its own culture.

Can I use both TikTok and Upscrolled?

Yes, you can use both TikTok and UpScrolled. Many users maintain both apps while building their Upscrolled presence. Keep in mind that running both platforms will increase your mobile data usage and require additional storage space.

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Jessica Santero

Staff Writer

Jessica is a Staff Writer for WhistleOut and the site’s resident app expert. Her coverage frequently includes hands-on comparisons of popular app categories, such as translation, navigation, and dating apps, to evaluate how they perform in real-world mobile use.

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