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.

  • pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zipEnglish
    23·
    1 month ago

    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.mlEnglish
      71·
      1 month ago

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

        • scala@lemmy.mlEnglish
          3·
          1 month ago

          Waterfox ftw.

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

            • scala@lemmy.mlEnglish
              2·
              1 month ago

              Right. I saw that. That’s good to bad it’s opt-out rather than opt in. Applaud Firefox for that though, rather than everyone else shoving it down your throat the second you sign in.

      • nforminvasion@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        And yet it has some of the best fingerprint randomization techniques. Down to some insane details. And before you say, just use the Tor browser for that… I do. But that is a different type of resistance, uniformity. Which is great for some use cases, but randomization also works even better in other situations… Eg, personalized browsers with a few extra extensions and customizations.

    • TractorDuffy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 month ago

      the only thing I can’t replace yet is Maps. reviews, photos, in-trip driving instructions, it’s just so full-featured I can’t imagine myself without it

      • pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zipEnglish
        3·
        1 month ago

        I haven’t used Google Maps for four months. OpenStreetMap has been enough for me. I don’t need reviews, photos, or driving instructions. Also, the constant use of navigation apps is atrophying our mental mapping skills.

    • QuandaleDingle@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 month ago

      My main problem now is that Google has a monopoly on the Android app store. Plus, most banking apps use play services, so good luck using your own phone ROM.

      • njordomir@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        1 month ago

        My bank has a mobile site that is more functional than their app. I guess that’s not the case for every bank.

        • pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zipEnglish
          2·
          1 month ago

          do they expect from me to throw my phone away becuase it’s old? hardware is working great >5 years but they limit the software and of course I will pass that limit

          it’s not that hard to do if a company don’t accept/respect your choice then you shouldn’t accept them

          edit: typo

      • pkjqpg1h@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        1 month ago

        I use a custom ROM (idk if this is the right word). I don’t have Google Services or any Google apps. My previous banking app didn’t accept custom ROMs, so I just canceled that and switched to one that does accept them. Now my banking app works great and I have no problems on my phone.