Dozens of German universities quit X over value compatibility issues

Over 60 German universities and research institutions have announced to leave the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter,  citing a “lack of compatibility between the platform and the institutions’ core values.”

The institutions includes prominent establishments like Goethe University in Frankfurt and Free University of Berlin.

Yesterday, these institutions issued a joint statement and expresses concerns over recent changes to the platform.

Their decision follows several changes to the X under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk. These institutions said these changes have undermined its ability to foster meaningful discourse.

The universities point to algorithmic shifts, which amplify right-wing populist content and restrict the organic reach of more balanced views, making continued engagement on the platform “untenable.”

Specially the Goethe University has 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