Over 60 German universities leave X over value compatibility issues

The universities' decision follows changes under Elon Musk's ownership, which they say hinder meaningful discourse

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More than 60 German universities and research institutions have announced they are leaving the social media platform X, citing a "lack of compatibility between the platform and the institutions' core values."

The institutions, which include prominent establishments like Goethe University in Frankfurt and Free University of Berlin, issued a joint statement on January 10th expressing concerns over recent changes to the platform. 

The universities' decision follows several changes to the platform under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, which they say have undermined its ability to foster meaningful discourse. The group points to algorithmic shifts that amplify right-wing populist content and restrict the organic reach of more balanced views, making continued engagement on the platform "untenable." 

Goethe University specifically highlighted the platform's manipulation to favor content aligned with its owner’s worldview, contributing to a steady decline in reach and interaction rates since Musk's acquisition in 2022. The institutions argue that X's shifting policies are incompatible with their commitment to "fact-based communication" and "democratic values." 

 A commitment to fact-based communication 

In their joint statement, the institutions emphasized their dedication to diversity, freedom, and science, noting that these values are no longer supported by the platform. The universities pointed out the importance of a "fact-oriented, transparent, and democratic" environment for meaningful communication, which they say is no longer achievable on X. 

"We can no longer contribute to discourse on a platform where its mechanisms actively hinder fact-based communication," stated Goethe University, explaining its decision to pull away. 

Despite their departure from X, the universities have opted to leave their accounts active, without posting new content, to prevent misuse. They are now evaluating alternative social media platforms, including Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads. However, they acknowledged that even on other networks, scientific communication faces significant challenges due to platform algorithms. 

The broader exodus 

The German institutions’ withdrawal follows similar moves by major European research organizations such as the Dutch Research Council and Paris-Saclay University. The universities urged other institutions to consider joining the exodus, stressing that scientific and factual content faces increasing challenges on social media platforms, especially under corporate policies that obscure such content.