idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Social media platform no longer offers a meaningful environment for fact-based communication by academic, research and scientific institutions
FRANKFURT. Goethe University has joined more than 60 other German-speaking universities, science and research institutions, who, in response to developments on the social media platform, have together decided to discontinue their activities on X (formerly Twitter). To engage in meaningful communication, such institutions require an environment in which discourse takes place in a fact-oriented, transparent and democratic manner, with respect for diversity, freedom and openmindedness. The only way for them to contribute to such discourse is if the platform mechanisms allow it. This is no longer the case on X.
Since being taken over by Elon Musk, not only have X's reach and interaction rate seen a steady decline. The platform’s algorithm has also been manipulated to favor content that corresponds to its owner's worldview. X has evolved from a place of constructive exchange into a tool used for disinformation. Studies and observations document that the platform deliberately discriminates against democratic voices. Evidence of meddling in democratic processes in the USA gives rise to fears of similar developments in Europe. These and other changes make X’s continued use unacceptable for institutions committed to fact-based knowledge and democratic values.
Scientific, factual and fact-based communication does not have it easy on other social networks either; dealing with their mechanisms in a meaningful way poses a daily challenge for anyone involved in science communication. However, whereas on LinkedIn or Instagram, for example, they can counteract this with well-founded, fact-based content, at X, the owner’s corporate policy is aimed precisely at making such content invisible.
Goethe University recommends that all its faculties, affiliated institutes and facilities, as well as the researchers and scientists employed by the university check whether they still consider an account on X to be useful. The social media team of the Office of PR and Communication, part of the University’s Executive Office, will be happy to advise you both on this and/or in the search for alternatives. The university itself operates accounts on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube, and is examining whether a presence on other platforms such as Bluesky, Mastodon or Threads makes sense.
The universities involved in this coordinated exit will leave their X accounts in a “frozen” state – i.e. without active content, but still visible, also in order to prevent the misuse of their account names by third parties.
The universities know of many scientific and science-related organizations that are currently considering similar steps and would be pleased if others followed their example.
The following universities and institutions of higher learning are part of the joint campaign:
• Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
• Anhalt University
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT)
• Berlin University of the Arts
• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus – Senftenberg
• Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia (katho)
• Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
• Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
• Fachhochschule Dortmund
• FernUniversität in Hagen
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Furtwangen University
• German Ornithologists’ Society
• German Sport University Cologne
• University of Music and Drama
• HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
• Heidelberg University
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
• Hochschule Darmstadt
• Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen (HfWU)
• Hochschule München
• Hochschule Neubrandenburg
• Hochschule Osnabrück
• Hochschule RheinMain
• Hochschule Ruhr West
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Institut für Vogelforschung "Vogelwarte Helgoland"
• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Justus-Liebig-Gesellschaft
• Justus Liebig University Giessen
• Kiel University (CAU)
• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research
• Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
• Medical University Innsbruck
• Munich School of Philosophy
• Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Protestant University Wuppertal
• RWTH Aachen University
• Saarland University
• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Technical University of Darmstadt
• TH Köln
• Trier University
• TUD Dresden University of Technology
• Ulm University
• University of Bamberg
• University of Bayreuth
• Universität Duisburg-Essen
• University of Erfurt
• University of Greifswald
• University of Innsbruck
• University of Münster
• University of Potsdam
• University of Siegen
• Universität Würzburg
• Universität zu Lübeck
• Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau
The joint press release issued by all participating universities/institutions is available here in German: http://n.idwf.de/845520.
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists
interdisciplinary
transregional, national
Miscellaneous scientific news/publications
English
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