Withdrawal from Platform X

Numerous academic institutions from the German-speaking world left Platform X in January 2025 following a widely recognised public appeal. By now, more than 120 universities and research institutes have joined the call to cease communication on X. This collective withdrawal underscores the scientific community’s commitment to values such as diversity, freedom, and academic integrity.

The decision for the joint "SciXit" is based on the assessment that the platform no longer meets the requirements for factual and respectful communication. Furthermore, scientific organisations emphasise the importance of resource efficiency: the time and energy spent on X can be used more effectively on other social networks to share research findings. Major institutions within the German Alliance of Science Organisations, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), and the German Science and Humanities Council, have also completed their withdrawal from X.

By taking this step, the participating institutions are sending a strong signal in favour of an open and constructive discussion culture and reaffirming their commitment to fact-based communication. Decentralised social media platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon are often cited as alternatives to the former Twitter network. The non-profit "OpenPortability" platform facilitates the transfer of user data from X, making it easier to transition to open platforms.

Participating Institutions

Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg

Alanus Hochschule für Kunst und Gesellschaft

Anhalt University of Applied Sciences

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Berliner Hochschule für Technik

Bielefeld University

Brandenburg University of Technology

Braunschweig University of Art (HBK)

Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design

Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia

Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS)

Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft

European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)

Fachhochschule Dortmund

Ferdinand-Braun­-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik  (FBH)

FernUniversität in Hagen

Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences

Freie Universität Berlin

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Friedrich-Alexander-U­niversität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Furtwangen University

German Association for Palliative Medicine

German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE)

Goethe-Universität Frankfurt

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg University of Music and Drama

HAWK University of applied sciences and arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Hochschule Bochum

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

Hochschule Bremen

Hochschule Darmstadt

Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar

Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde

Hochschule für Philosophie München

Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen

Hochschule Landshut

Hochschule München

Hochschule Neubrandenburg

Hochschule Osnabrück

Hochschule RheinMain

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Ilmenau University of Technology

Institute of Avian Research

IU International University of Applied Sciences

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Justus-Liebig-Ge­sellschaft

Kempten University of Applied Sciences

Kiel University

Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal

Konstanz University of Applied Sciences

Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research

Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF)

Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)

Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy

Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP)

Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)

Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT)

Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS)

Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories

Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI)

Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID)

Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN)

Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB)

Leibniz Institute of European History

Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV)

Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)

Leibniz PostDoc Network

Leibniz-Lab Pandemic Preparedness Hamburg

Leibniz University Hannover

Lutheran University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg

Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Max Weber Foundation - German Humanities Institutes Abroad

Medical University of Innsbruck

Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Protestant University of Applied Sciences

Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center

Reutlingen University

Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences

RWTH Aachen

Saarland University

Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt

Technical University of Darmstadt

Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola - University of Applied Sciences

Technische Hochschule Köln

Technische Hochschule Lübeck

Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm

Technische Hochschule Wildau - Technical University of Applied Sciences

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Technische Universität Dresden

THM - University of Applied Sciences

Trier University

Ulm University

Universität Bamberg

Universität der Künste Berlin

Universität Greifswald

Universität Heidelberg

Universität Hohenheim

Universität Innsbruck

Universität Konstanz

Universität Münster

Universität Siegen

Universität Würzburg

Universitiy of Regensburg

University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern

University of Art and Design

University of Bayreuth

University of Duisburg-Essen

University of Erfurt

University of Freiburg

University of Göttingen

University of Kassel

University of Koblenz

University of Lübeck

University of Music and Theatre Munich

University of Passau

University of Potsdam

University of Wuerzburg

Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau - University of Applied Sciences

WZB Berlin Social Science Center

YMCA University of Applied Science

Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen