What Changed with the Transfer of TikTok Operations? The "Censorship Anxiety" That Led to the UpScrolled Migration Rush

What Changed with the Transfer of TikTok Operations? The "Censorship Anxiety" That Led to the UpScrolled Migration Rush

1) The Mass Migration of Users Sparked by the Transfer to the "American Version of TikTok"

"TikTok has come under the management of a U.S. corporate consortium"—this news changed the "atmosphere" more than the app's usability. In an era where timelines are swayed by political and social issues, social media is not just entertainment but also a gateway to information and a place for community. Therefore, a change in management directly links to the anxiety of "whose post will disappear next."


The platform that has rapidly emerged as a refuge is "UpScrolled." It allows users to post photos, videos, and text, with a UI that resembles a mix of Instagram and X. While the influx of new users has significantly boosted its ranking, there have also been instances of service instability due to concentrated access.


2) Why "Censorship Anxiety" Has Reignited: Transfer, Glitches, and Trust Issues

After the transfer, suspicions spread that "certain political topics have become less visible." For example, in the U.S., it has been reported that a state governor claimed "content critical of the president is being suppressed" and requested an investigation by authorities. However, the management side explained that it was a technical issue stemming from a power outage at a data center, not intentional suppression.


What is crucial here is that even when the truth is not immediately confirmed, if the "trust balance" is low, suspicions can spread explosively. TikTok has long been at the center of political debates over national security and data management. While the establishment of a new framework for continued business in the U.S. may seem like "stabilization," users do not necessarily perceive it that way.


3) What is UpScrolled?: A "Neutral" and "No Shadow Banning" Refuge

The main reason UpScrolled has attracted attention lies more in its "promised words" than its features. The platform emphasizes its stance of distancing itself from external agendas by pledging "neutrality in political agendas," "no shadow banning," and "equal opportunity for posts to be seen."


The founder mentioned is Issam Hijazi, a technologist who launched the platform in 2025. His profile is multicultural, and the product strongly advocates "freedom of expression" and "fair visibility." These ideals resonate with users tired of current social media. As more people feel that algorithms cannot be separated from the influence of advertising and politics, they are inclined to move to a place that at least claims "not to do it."


4) The "Influx Shock" Told by Numbers: Rising Rankings and Server Strain

According to reports, UpScrolled has climbed in overall rankings on the App Store and ranked high within its category. Furthermore, the number of downloads has surged in a short period, significantly exceeding the previous average. While such rapid growth should be welcome news, in reality, the infrastructure reaches its limit first. It has been reported that the management stated, "The server could not withstand the influx beyond expectations," and they were busy with recovery and enhancement.


What is evident here is the difficulty of "SNS migration." Users move en masse driven by emotion, but services need to be supported physically. Experiencing crashes, slowness, or inability to post in the new place sought as a haven rapidly cools enthusiasm.


5) Reactions on Social Media: Expectations, Doubts, and the Fatigue of "Switching Again"

The movement this time is symbolized by the multi-layered reactions that erupted on social media. Broadly speaking, at least the following four patterns can be observed.


① The "Just Want to Leave" Group: Participating with "Expression of Intent" in New Territory
On Reddit, short declarations like "moving" and "quitting" stand out. There are people who oppose not only political anxiety but also the change in "rules of the place" itself due to the change in management.


② The "Understand the Ideal, but the Experience Doesn't Hit" Group: Dissatisfaction with UX and Algorithms
Similarly, on Reddit, there are voices expressing dissatisfaction with UpScrolled's feed behavior and usability, leading them to uninstall it quickly. TikTok's strength ultimately lies in the addictiveness of its algorithm and viewing experience. Unless that can be surpassed, a "refuge" is unlikely to become a "settlement."


③ The "Sounds Too Good to Be True" Group: Reactions Like Stealth Marketing Suspicions and Conspiracy Theories
It's common with rapidly expanding new services, but there are also suspicions like "Is the media just hyping it?" or "Are the posters just promoting it?" Especially when tied to political and speech topics, the engine of dissemination becomes "suspicion" rather than "verification."


④ The "Just Tired of SNS" Group: Proposing Withdrawal Over Switching
There is also a strong opinion that "it's better to quit SNS altogether than to look for alternatives." The resignation that even if you change platforms, advertising, algorithms, uproar, and division will follow.


The simultaneous existence of these four groups indicates the "tectonic shift" in current SNS. Migration is not a move to "switch winners" but a move to "find trustworthy rules."


6) Can UpScrolled Become the "Next Place"? The Focus is on Three Points

Finally, whether UpScrolled will end as a temporary refuge or become established depends on the following three points.


(1) Balancing Infrastructure and Moderation
The more "freedom" is advocated, the harder it becomes to deal with illegal, harmful content and harassment. Moreover, during periods of rapid user growth, misuse also increases. How transparently can the management explain the operation between ideals and reality?


(2) Will Creators Migrate?
An economic sphere cannot be created with just viewers. The challenge is whether a system can be prepared where creators are satisfied with "post growth," "monetization," and "discoverability."


(3) The Value After the "Anti-TikTok" Heat Cools
The current influx is largely fueled by TikTok's transfer, glitches, and distrust. A "daily charm" that remains after the fuel runs out is necessary.


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