German universities and research institutions are leaving X. Picture: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
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
