More than 60 German universities and research institutions have announced their departure from the social media platform X, citing a fundamental mismatch between the platform’s operations and its core values.

In a joint statement on January 10, leading institutions such as Goethe University in Frankfurt and the Free University of Berlin expressed their concerns regarding recent changes implemented on the platform.

This decision comes in response to several alterations made under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, which the institutions believe have compromised the platform’s ability to support meaningful discourse. They pointed to algorithmic adjustments that favour right-wing populist content while limiting the visibility of more balanced perspectives, rendering continued participation on X “untenable.”

Goethe University called attention to the platform’s tendency to promote content that aligns with Musk’s worldview, noting a consistent decline in both reach and engagement since his acquisition in 2022. The institutions argue that X’s evolving policies conflict with their commitment to “fact-based communication” and uphold “democratic values.”

In a joint statement, universities and research institutions reaffirmed their commitment to diversity, freedom, and science, stating that these values are no longer upheld by the social media platform X.

They highlighted the necessity of a “fact-oriented, transparent, and democratic” environment for meaningful dialogue, which they believe is no longer possible on X.

“We can no longer contribute to discourse on a platform where its mechanisms actively hinder fact-based communication,” Goethe University said.

While the institutions have chosen to keep their accounts active without posting new content to avoid potential misuse, they are exploring alternative platforms like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads. However, they noted that scientific communication still faces significant hurdles due to algorithms on other networks.

This withdrawal mirrors similar actions by major European research organisations, including the Dutch Research Council and Paris-Saclay University. The German institutions are encouraging other organizations to consider following suit.