Together for Diversity, Freedom, and Science

Alanus University leaves platform X together with more than 60 other universities and research institutions.

More than 60 German-speaking universities and research institutions, including Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Alfter near Bonn, want to send a signal and are jointly announcing that they will discontinue their activities on platform X (formerly Twitter). The withdrawal is a consequence of the current direction of the platform no longer being compatible with the core 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 continued use indefensible for the participating organizations. The institutions’ withdrawal underscores their commitment to fact-based communication and their opposition to anti-democratic forces. The values that promote diversity, freedom, and science are no longer present on the platform.

Some institutions that had already ended their activities on the platform also support the joint appeal, thereby reaffirming the importance of an open and constructive culture of discussion. This decision applies exclusively to the X accounts of the participating institutions and not to their communication via other social media channels. In light of recent developments, they will continue to closely monitor the evolution of the platforms and their algorithms.

The participating institutions:

• Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences Alfter/Bonn
• Bauhaus University Weimar
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik
• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg
• Kiel University
• German Ornithological Society
• German Sport University Cologne
• European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
• Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts
• FernUniversität in Hagen
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Goethe University Frankfurt
• HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
• Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
• Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
• Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
• Saar College of Fine Arts
• Hamburg University of Music and Drama
• Munich School of Philosophy
• Furtwangen University
• Munich University of Applied Sciences
• Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences
• Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
• RheinMain University of Applied Sciences
• Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
• Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
• Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Institute of Avian Research
• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Justus Liebig Society
• Justus Liebig University Giessen
• Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
• Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel
• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research
• Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
• Medical University of Innsbruck
• Philipps University Marburg
• RWTH Aachen University
• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
• Cologne University of Applied Sciences
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Technical University of Darmstadt
• TU Dresden
• University of Bamberg
• University of Bayreuth
• Saarland University
• Berlin University of the Arts
• University of 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
• University of Würzburg
• University of Lübeck
• West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau

Photo: HHU/Paul Schwaderer

Press contact:
+49 (0)2222 9321-1944
presse@alanus.edu

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