More than 60 German-speaking universities and research institutions want to send out a signal and have jointly announced that they will cease their activities on Platform X (formerly Twitter). The withdrawal is due to the fact that the current orientation of the platform is not reconciled with the basic values of the participating institutions: Openness to the world, scientific integrity, transparency and democratic discourse.
The changes to Platform X - from the algorithmic amplification of right-wing populist content to the restriction of organic reach - make its continued use unjustifiable for the organisations involved. The withdrawal of the institutions emphasises their commitment to fact-based communication and against anti-democratic forces. The values that promote diversity, freedom and scientific research are no longer present on the platform.
Some institutions that have already discontinued their activities on the platform - Ulm University left X at the end of October 2024 - also support the joint appeal and thus reaffirm the importance of an open and constructive culture of discussion. This decision only affects the X accounts of the participating institutions and not their communication via other social media channels. In light of recent events, they will continue to closely monitor the development of the platforms and their algorithms.
The participating institutions:
| - Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences - Bauhaus University Weimar - Berlin University of Applied Sciences - Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg - Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel - German Ornithological Society - German Sport University Cologne - European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) - Dortmund University of Applied Sciences - FernUniversität in Hagen - Freie University Berlin - Goethe University Frankfurt - HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen - Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf - Anhalt University of Applied Sciences - Saar University of Fine Arts - University of Music and Theatre Hamburg - University of Philosophy Munich - University of Fine Arts Saarland - University of Music and Theatre HamburgMunich University of Philosophy - Furtwangen University - Munich University of Applied Sciences - Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences - Osnabrück University of Applied SciencesOsnabrück University of Applied Sciences - RheinMain University of Applied Sciences - Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences - Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development - Nürtingen University of Applied SciencesNürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences - Humboldt University of Berlin - Institute for Bird Research - Johannes Gutenberg University Main | - Justus-Liebig-Gesellschaft - Justus-Liebig-University Gießen - Katholische Hochschule Nord Rhine-Westphalia - Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal - University of Wuppertal - Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde - Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research - Medicine University of Innsbruck - Philipps University of Marburg - RWTH Aachen - Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola - Technische University Darmstadt - Technische University Dresden - TH Köln - University of Bamberg - University of Bayreuth - Saarland University - Berlin University of the Arts - University of Duisburg-Essen - University of Erfurt - University of Greifswald -University of Heidelberg - University of Innsbruck - University of Münster - University of Potsdam - University of Siegen - University of Trier - Ulm University - University of Würzburg - University of Lübeck |
Text: Dr Achim Zolke, Head of Office Press and Communications University of Düsseldorf
Media contact Ulm University: Daniela Stang