University of Bayreuth, Press Release No. 002/2025 - 10 January 2025

Universities and research institutions leave Platform X

Numerous German-speaking universities and research institutions are ending their activities on Platform X (formerly Twitter) - including the University of Bayreuth - as a consequence of the platform's current orientation. It is difficult to reconcile it with the fundamental values of the participating institutions - openness to the world, scientific rigor, transparency and democratic discourse.

Instead of X: Bluesky @unibayreuth.bsky.social and Mastodon @unibayreuth@wisskomm.social

The University of Bayreuth will also no longer be posting on X from today. Instead, it is now using Bluesky (@unibayreuth.bsky.social) and Mastodon (@unibayreuth@wisskomm.social).

The changes to the X platform - from the algorithmic amplification of right-wing populist content to the restriction of organic reach - make it almost impossible for scientific organizations in Germany to continue using X. “With this step, we are underlining our commitment to fact-based communication and against forces that are harmful to democracy,” says University President Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible.

Numerous institutions that are suspending or have already suspended their activities on the platform as of today's date are thus reaffirming the importance of an open and constructive culture of discussion. This will shift the focus of science communication to other social networks that correspond to the values and requirements of the participating institutions.

These Institutions support the X-exit:

Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
Bauhaus University Weimar
Berlin University of Applied Sciences
Berlin University of the Arts
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg
Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
Darmstadt University of Technology
Dortmund University of Applied Sciences
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Free University of Berlin
Furtwangen University
Georg Agricola University of Technology
German Ornithological Society
German Sport University Cologne
Goethe University Frankfurt
Hamburg University of Music and Theater
HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hildesheim / Holzminden / Göttingen
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Humboldt University of Berlin
Institute for Bird Research
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Justus Liebig Society
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Kiel University (CAU)
Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
Medical University of Innsbruck
Munich School of Philosophy
Munich University of Applied Sciences
Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences
Nürtingen-Geislingen University for Economy and Environment
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
Philipps University Marburg
RheinMain University of Applied Sciences
RWTH Aachen University
Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
Saarland University
Saar University of Fine Arts
TH Cologne
TUD Dresden University of Technology
University of Bamberg
University of Bayreuth
University of Duisburg-Essen
University of Erfurt
University of Greifswald
University of Hagen
University of Heidelberg
University of Innsbruck
University of Lübeck
University of Münster
University of Potsdam
University of Siegen
University of Trier
University of Ulm
University of Wuppertal
University of Würzburg
West Coast University of Applied Sciences
Wuppertal University of Applied Sciences

Universities and research institutions leave Platform X

Anja-Maria MeisterPressesprecherin der Universität Bayreuth

Anja-Maria Meister
Pressesprecherin der Universität Bayreuth