UpScrolled faces moderation crisis after rapid user growth

UpScrolled, a social network that grew in the U.S., is currently struggling to moderate hate speech on its platform following a period of fast growth. The app has experienced expansion, recording more than 2.5 million users in January and more than 4 million downloads on iOS and Android since June 2025. However, this growth has left the platform struggling to moderate hate speech and harmful content.

The platform’s moderation difficulties have drawn scrutiny. According to a blog post published by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization that tracks extremist content, UpScrolled has become home to antisemitic and extremist content and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas.

Founder Issam Hijazi has acknowledged the presence of harmful content on the platform, stating that users have been uploading harmful content that goes against UpScrolled’s terms of service. Hijazi noted that the platform’s goal is to offer everyone the freedom to express and share their opinions in a healthy and respectful digital environment. To address the issues, Hijazi announced that the company is “rapidly expanding our content moderation team, and we are upgrading our technology infrastructure so we can catch and remove harmful content more effectively.” This situation occurs despite previous assertions on the UpScrolled website and FAQ that the platform offers every voice equal power and does not censor opinions. Additionally, the company stated via its public email address that it is actively reviewing and removing inappropriate content.

The challenges facing UpScrolled mirror those experienced by other social networks. For example, Bluesky faced similar issues in July 2023. The situation illustrates the difficulty that social platforms face in enforcing safety policies during sudden user influxes.

Why it matters

UpScrolled’s struggle highlights the recurring challenge for new social platforms: balancing rapid user acquisition with the technical and operational demands of enforcing safety policies at scale.