UpScrolled adds Irish language support to be 'more inclusive'

UpScrolled, a social media platform founded in June of last year, has expanded its language options to include Irish, its CEO Issam Hijazi announced on Wednesday. The Palestinian-Australian CEO now says the app supports Irish, English, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, and Italian. Hijazi emphasizes that adding more languages is crucial for making UpScrolled an inclusive platform where users can express themselves in their preferred language.

Research found that 73% of Irish individuals under 35 want to improve their Irish language skills, reflecting a growing interest in the language. UpScrolled was created in response to bias against promoting Palestinian issues on social media. After Hamas attacks in October 2023, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook allegedly censored posts related to Palestine, leading to accusations of algorithmic bias.

The app gained popularity, reaching the top of mobile download charts in the months after its release. However, UpScrolled has faced controversies, including accusations of lax content moderation and being briefly removed from Google's app store. The company relocated its headquarters to the Netherlands due to its stringent digital safety standards.

In its one-year anniversary, UpScrolled highlighted the importance of collective voices not being silenced or censored.