Universities mass-exit social network X

Sixty scientific and research institutions from Germany and Austria have simultaneously announced their decision to leave the social network X. 

Against this backdrop, the German government has expressed concern that the platform, owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, allegedly contributes to the distortion of political discourse.

In addition to universities, the social network is also being abandoned by the GEW education workers' union and the Federal Court of Justice of Germany. This decision was made shortly after Musk held a public conversation with Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right party "Alternative for Germany", according to DW.

Among the departing institutions are leading German universities. In a statement, they emphasised that X's policies, in their view, contradict democratic values. According to representatives of educational institutions, the platform's algorithms promote right-wing populist content, limiting alternative viewpoints.

"The decision to leave is linked to the mismatch between the social network's current orientation and our core principles, including impartiality, scientific integrity, transparency, and commitment to democratic discourse," the official statement reads.

The German government shares this view, stating that the approaches to information dissemination on the X platform do not foster balanced and objective discussion, but rather intensify polarisation and cause tension. 

Despite this, authorities are currently remaining on the platform due to its wide audience, but are actively discussing the possibility of a complete exit.

The situation escalated following Elon Musk's conversation with Alice Weidel, which was published on X. During the discussion, key figures in German politics, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, were criticised, which provoked a negative reaction from the government and academic circles.