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, including the LIB. 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 (openportability.org) facilitates the transfer of user data from X, making it easier to transition to open platforms.
Participating institutions:
- Nuremberg Academy of Fine Arts
- Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
- Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg
- Bauhaus University Weimar
- Berlin University of Applied Sciences
- Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg
- Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle
- Centre for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS)
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
- YMCA University of Kassel
- German Society for Palliative Medicine
- German Ornithological Society
- German Sport University Cologne
- German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE)
- European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
- Ludwigsburg Protestant University of Applied Sciences
- Protestant University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg (EVHN)
- Dortmund University of Applied Sciences
- Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz Institute for High Frequency Technology (FBH)
- Open University in Hagen
- Borstel Research Centre, Leibniz Lung Centre
- Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
- Free University of Berlin
- Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena
- Georg-August-University Göttingen
- Goethe University Frankfurt
- HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
- Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
- Bochum University of Applied Sciences
- Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
- Bremen University of Applied Sciences
- Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
- Saar University of Fine Arts
- University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg)
- Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences
- Braunschweig University of Art (HBK)
- Hamburg University of Music and Theatre
- Munich University of Music and Theatre
- Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
- Munich School of Philosophy
- Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences
- Furtwangen University
- Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences
- Kempten University of Applied Sciences
- Landshut University of Applied Sciences
- Mainz University of Applied Sciences
- Munich University of Applied Sciences
- Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences
- Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
- Reutlingen University
- RheinMain University of Applied Sciences
- Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences
- Hamburg University of Music and Theatre
- HTWG Konstanz University of Applied Sciences - Technology, Business and Design
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Institute for Bird Research
- IU International University
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
- Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg
- Justus Liebig Society
- Catholic University of Applied Sciences North Rhine-Westphalia
- Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
- Ecclesiastical University of Wuppertal
- Leibniz PostDoc Network
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
- Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP)
- Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi)
- Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN)
- Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG)
- Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT)
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI)
- Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS)
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
- Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID)
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV)
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB)
- Leibniz-Lab Pandemic Preparedness Hamburg
- Leibniz Centre for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL)
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)
- Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF)
- Max Weber Foundation - German Humanities Institutes Abroad
- Medical University of Innsbruck
- Philipps University Marburg
- RWTH Aachen University
- Senckenberg Society for Nature Research
- Georg Agricola University of Technology
- Cologne University of Technology
- Lübeck University of Technology
- Technical University of Central Hesse (THM)
- Nuremberg University of Technology Georg Simon Ohm
- Wildau University of Applied Sciences
- Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Technology
- Braunschweig University of Technology
- Darmstadt University of Technology
- Dresden University of Technology
- University of Bamberg
- University of Bayreuth
- University of Bielefeld
- Berlin University of the Arts
- Saarland University
- University of Duisburg-Essen
- University of Erfurt
- University of Greifswald
- University of Heidelberg
- University of Hohenheim
- University of Innsbruck
- University of Kassel
- University of Constance
- University of Münster
- University of Passau
- University of Potsdam
- University of Regensburg
- University of Siegen
- University of Trier
- University of Ulm
- University of Würzburg
- University of Lübeck
- University of Applied Sciences Zwickau
- Social Science Research Centre Berlin (WZB)
- Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen