Universities and research institutions leave Platform X (formerly Twitter): United for diversity, freedom and science
More than 60 universities and research institutions in Germany, among them the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), have decided to take a stand and collectively announce their decision to cease activities on Platform X (formerly Twitter). This withdrawal comes in response to the platform's current direction, which is incompatible with the core values of the participating institutions: openness to the world, scientific integrity, transparency, and democratic discourse.
The changes on Platform X – from algorithmic amplification of right-wing populist content to the restriction of organic reach – make its continued use unjustifiable for the organisations involved. By leaving, these institutions reaffirm their commitment to fact-based communication and opposition to anti-democratic forces. The values that promote diversity, freedom and science are no longer upheld on the platform.
Prof. Dr Raimund Bleischwitz, Scientific Director of ZMT, says: “I am in favour of ZMT's exit from X and support today's joint withdrawal of the many universities and research institutes. At ZMT, we cultivate an organisational culture that is characterised by mutual respect and appreciation. Recognising and promoting diverse potential is very important to us. For ZMT, the platform X is no longer a place for open, respectful and fruitful discourse.”
Several institutions that had already ceased their activities on the platform are also supporting this 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.
ZMT is active on the following social media channels:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/leibniz-zmt.bsky.social
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leibniz-centre-for-tropical-marine-research-zmt/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@leibnizzmt
Participating institutions:
• Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik
• Brandenburg University of Technology – Senftenberg
• Kiel University (CAU)
• German Ornithologists' Society
• German Sport University Cologne
• European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
• Fachhochschule Dortmund
• FernUniversität in Hagen
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Goethe University Frankfurt
• HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Art Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
• Hochschule Anhalt - University of Applied Sciences
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
• Hochschule Darmstadt - University of Applied Sciences
• Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar
• Hamburg University of Music and Drama
• Munich School of Philosopy
• Furtwangen University
• HM Hochschule München - University of Applied Sciences
• Hochschule Neubrandenburg - University of Applied Sciences
• Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
• Hochschule RheinMain
• Hochschule Ruhr West - University of Applied Sciences
• Eberswalde University for Susatinable Development
• Nürtingen-Geislingen University
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Institut für Vogelforschung
• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Justus-Liebig-Gesellschaft
• Justus Liebig University Giessen
• Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia
• Protestant University Wuppertal
• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research
• Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde
• Medical University of Innsbruck
• Philipps-Universität Marburg
• RWTH Aachen
• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
• Technische Hochschule Köln - University of Applied Sciences
• Technische Hochschule Wildau - Technical University of Applied Sciences
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Technical University of Darmstadt
• Dresden University of Technology
• University of Bamberg
• University of Bayreuth
• Saarland University
• Berlin University of the Arts
• Universität Duisburg-Essen
• University of Erfurt
• University of Greifswald
• Heidelberg University
• University of Innsbruck
• University of Münster
• University of Potsdam
• University of Siegen
• Trier University
• Ulm University
• Universität Würzburg
• Universität zu Lübeck
• Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau - University of Applied Sciences
Contacts