this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2026
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Google Play has delisted UpScrolled, the "censorship-resistant" social media app founded by Issam Hijazi, following its rapid growth to over 2.5 million users and its brief stint as a top-ranked alternative to TikTok.

While the app remains available for existing users, Google has not provided a specific reason for the removal; UpScrolled's team confirmed they are working with the Play Store for reinstatement while maintaining their commitment to unfiltered content.

This development follows the app's rapid ascent in popularity, particularly amid concerns over content moderation on competing platforms like TikTok.

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[–] kadu@scribe.disroot.org 116 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Reminder that Google is on it's third attempt to prevent or limit the installation of APKs outside of the Play Store, meaning they are near the point they can effectively control what apps people run.

[–] SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago (3 children)

When this happens I'm flashing graphene os onto my pixel 9

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 43 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Do it now, use obtainium, droidfy and aurora. Nearly every app works except google wallet.

[–] pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago

The updated F-Droid Basic is great, it's modern and it

  • UI rewritten from scratch with Kotlin compose
  • improved search, also searching in descriptions and translations
  • easier to discover new apps, also highlighting the most downloaded ones
  • installation approval before downloading
  • multiple updates/downloads at the same time
  • notifying user of issues with apps (e.g. signing key changed)
  • optional Material You color theme
  • improved filtering of lists source
[–] SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (4 children)

My only problem stopping me is I use my phone for work too. Microsoft auth, outlook. Mostly just auth. I was looking it up a bit ago and people said it breaks it for work accounts

[–] Lfrith@lemmy.ca 24 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Not a good idea to mix personal and work devices. I'd recommend getting a cheap budget phone to use for work.

[–] shane@feddit.nl 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Or ask your work to give you a phone?

My company insists on spyware for my phone, so I insist they give me a phone for work stuff. I leave it off in a drawer at home when I'm not on call.

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[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 6 points 1 week ago

I'd recommend demanding work getting a cheap budget phone.

If they require you have work software they can provide the hardware to run it.

Your phone is your phone.

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[–] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 24 points 1 week ago

u should do that anyway, it's so nice to not feel watched while typing

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago
[–] pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago

This was the real reason for me to ditch the whole Google

I may compromise privacy

but I'd die for FREEDOM

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[–] Solrac@lemmy.world 61 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's a different type of platform though. Upscrolled = insta, Loops = tiktok.

[–] diemartin@sh.itjust.works 44 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Solrac@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

I don't see why not, if you want, why not both

[–] DaMummy@hilariouschaos.com 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not just an alternative to TikTok, but also need one for Google Play, and Android too while we're at it. (Yes, I know they exist. Just making a point)

[–] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

brb buying an iPhone

'no wait not like that'

[–] pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zip 27 points 1 week ago (22 children)

Google is a fucking monopoly. (Please do not use any Google product. If you care about freedom, there are tons of alternatives for most products.)

Start with:

switch to DuckDuckGo search or Brave Search

switch to Firefox on your phone and use uBlock Origin (not the weak lite version, but the full Origin version)

Good job you've done 80% of the work. You can continue to de-Google

btw

[–] scala@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Don't use brave it's still chromium/ pays Google

[–] pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] scala@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Waterfox ftw.

Honestly Firefox is fine for now until they add their AI shit

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[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

De-listed where? It's listed still for me.

I'm guessing it was a regional de-listment and it just wasn't specified.

Being said, this page was enough to make me install the app, still unsure if I wanna use it or not but, I don't wanna risk losing the ability to install the app either.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It's back. It was gone for just a few hours it seems

[–] darkevilmac@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago (3 children)

The more I work for tech companies the more I genuinely end up believing that stuff like this being removed is in fact just incompetence at least 50% of the time

[–] BreadstickNinja@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

A lot of companies seem to automatically delist things that get mass reported, which makes them subject to interference by armies of paid or unpaid trolls. Hopefully the issue gets corrected but this seems to happen more and more frequently.

[–] fortnitefinn@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 week ago

I work in tech too, and I'm convinced almost none of these abusive tactics are the result of incompetence.

The abuse is the point. They need to constantly remind people who is in charge.

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[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The devs confirmed it was delisted. Not sure what its current status is. Seeing mixed messages online so it might be regional delisting or it might have been restored.

[–] Feyd@programming.dev 21 points 1 week ago

No website is certainly a choice

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 20 points 1 week ago

EU, what about Google monopolies??

[–] voodooattack@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Clickbait? The developer is Palestinian/Australian, the app’s audience is global, and it’s not just Palestine-specific. So what’s up with the sensationalised title?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 23 points 1 week ago (5 children)

It's an app developed by a Palestinian which got popular because of recent increasing censorship on TikTok and Instagram against Palestine.

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[–] bossito@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

If anything the app is Australian, Australian made, the developers are in Australia.. this is clickbait

[–] arcine@jlai.lu 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Ditch Google Play !

You can use Obtainium and F-Droid to install apps as directly from the Developer as possible.

You can use Aurora Store to get things from the App Store anonymously.

If you want, you can install /e/os (any phone) or GrapheneOS (Pixels only) to de-google your Android as much as possible !

[–] pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

F-Droid (main repo + izzy's repo) is enough for 70-80% of app needs and their quality is very good (in play store there is millions app but most off them is scam and trash)

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[–] Railison@aussie.zone 14 points 1 week ago

IIRC the app is Australian but founder is Palestinian-Australian

[–] mrodri89@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 week ago

I hope Europe makes their own App Store and sells cool flip phones like they have in Japan.

Sell it to us too.

Kindly, An American wanting to starve the corrupt beast of my government.

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

They still haven't removed twitter for the AI generated child porn.

[–] CovfefeKills@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It's back I am downloading it now. Good guy google with the streisand effect.

E: Oh it's just isreal hating which is fun and all but doesn't get anyone anywhere but a list lol

[–] merdaverse@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Has anyone here actually tried the app? The first (and thankfully last) time I tried it, it was full of nazis and actual CSAM. Maybe too censorship resistant for its own good??

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[–] Mrkawfee@feddit.uk 3 points 1 week ago

I fucking despise israel and their bootlickers.

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