The conversion to #Fediverse is being pursued with great commitment at academic #libraries in Germany. The #Mastodon instance openbiblio.social , which was founded several years ago and now has 630 active library and information institutions and their staff, plays a central role in this. Accounts with large numbers of followers include @tibhannover, @stabi_berlin and others.

But @openblio.social offers a home not only to scientific institutions, but also to public institutions such as @stabiwupp, or the voices of the #OpenScience movement @ZBW_MediaTalk, @unzeit, @RenkeSiems

The portal gave the following explanation for its creation: "There are a number of reasons to be dissatisfied with the current development of #Twitter. The centralized and commercially oriented service does little to combat #discrimination of all kinds, #HateSpeech or #FakeNews."

#unisinsfediverse

OpenBiblio.Social

Der Einstieg in das Mastodon-Netzwerk für Bibliotheksmenschen

^{Mastodon hosted on openbiblio.social}

@wechange is a German-based #cooperative that contributes to the digital transformation towards more #sustainability: wechange.de/cms/?lang=en
Many individuals, organizations and communities are already taking advantage of their offers to use the internet for sharing and networking instead of "leaving it to a handful of data octopuses and software companies".

At the end of last week, @wechange decided to stop using #X/Twitter and instead rely entirely on #Mastodon in future - in line with our appeal to the #HRK.
openpetition.de/unis4mastodon

Bravo, wechange! #AlleinsFediverse #unisinsfediverse

WECHANGE

The platform, where the change happens: Collaborate with your team members, network with like-minded changemakers and become visible.

^{WECHANGE eG}

The Gemeinschaftsbank for Lending and Giving - @glsbank - is one of the largest cooperative banks in Germany. It has been financing social and ecological projects since 1974 and started using the emerging social networks, including #Twitter, in 2008.
gls.de/privatkunden/gls-bank/a…
But this has been over since December 2023.

"The developments at Twitter/#X are no longer compatible with the values of #GLSBank," says Rouven Kasten, Community Manager at the bank.

Bravo, GLS-Bank! #AlleinsFediverse #unisinsfediverse
Setting an example for many, such as the universities in Germany:
openpetition.de/unis4mastodon

Abkehr vom Netzwerk X - GLS Bank sagt „auf Twittersehen“

Alle Pressemitteilungen und Pressekontakte der GLS Bank.

^www.gls.de

Around a month ago, the radio station Deutschlandfunk also withdrew from the X/ #Twitter platform
twitter.com/DLF/status/1742134…

It had previously reported: "The #X communication platform is losing more advertising customers. ... In addition, the EU Commission announced that it no longer wanted to place advertising for the time being. The reason given was that there was an alarming increase in #disinformation and #HateSpeech on the platform."
deutschlandfunk.de/weitere-wer…

#unisinsfediverse

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency left the online platform "#X" (formerly #Twitter) last November:
antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/…

Their website announces: "Due to the enormous increase in trans- and #queerphobia, #racism, #misogyny, #anti-Semitism and other misanthropic content, "X is no longer a sustainable environment for a public body," said the Independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, #FerdaAtaman, explaining the decision. ... The number of hate comments had also increased so massively that the anti-discrimination office could only counter this with a high level of staffing. "It is questionable whether this can still be justified with taxpayers' money," said Ataman.

"... Ministries and government agencies should ask themselves whether it is still acceptable to remain on a platform that has become a disinformation network and whose owner spreads anti-Semitic, racist and populist content," Ataman added.

#unisinsfediverse

At the beginning of January, the City of #Chemnitz stopped using #X, formerly #Twitter.

The city had been active on the microblogging service since 2011 and justified its withdrawal with the development of #freedomofexpression.
mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/che…
A remarkable decision. Bravo, #Stadt_Chemnitz!

This is a perfect blueprint for @tuchemnitz, which has already taken a step in the right direction, namely into the Fediverse, by using #Mastodon. Bravo, #TU_Chemnitz!

#unisinsfediverse

Stadt Chemnitz zieht sich von Plattform X zurück

Nutzer kehren dem Kurznachrichtendienst X - ehemals Twitter - seit der Übernahme durch Elon Musk immer häufiger den Rücken. Nun verabschiedet sich die Stadt Chemnitz von der Social-Media-Plattform. Aber nicht komplett.

^{MDR SACHSEN (MDR)}

First #universities in Germany leave X/Twitter

At the end of last year, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences announced its withdrawal from #X / #Twitter. President Prof. Steinmetz justified the move:

"We have observed with growing discomfort the consequences of inadequate content moderation on 'X'. Discriminatory and anti-Semitic content, conspiracy narratives, political #disinformation and even calls for #violence were able to spread rapidly on 'X', ... We no longer want to be found in this environment. We can no longer reconcile this with our values: ... As a community of diverse people, #tolerance and respectful interaction with one another is important to us."

h-da.de/meldung-einzelansicht/…

Bravo, #h_da!
There is an urgent need for universities to compare their mission statements with the behavior of the major advertising platforms and draw conclusions.
You can sign here to encourage more #unisinsfediverse:
👉 openpetition.de/petition/onlin…

Wikimedia Deutschland @wikimediaDE is committed to free access to knowledge and education at all levels of society.

Regarding their value orientation, they say: "#participation, #diversity, free and open access, #justice, #sustainability and respectful collaboration - these #values are at the core of Wikimedia Deutschland."

In October last year, it became clear that X/Twitter no longer met these criteria: "After much deliberation, we decided to no longer communicate about the work of Wikimedia Deutschland on #X, formerly #Twitter."
blog.wikimedia.de/2023/10/26/w…

A logical and responsible decision @wikimediaDE !
But not only that: since last week we also welcome @wikimediaDE to the group of supporting organizations of our action alliance.
Welcome @wikimediaDE !
We look forward to working with you to encourage the #universities for a better internet.

#UnisInsFediverse

Wir verabschieden uns: X ist nicht mehr das, was Twitter mal war - Wikimedia Deutschland Blog

Nach langem Überlegen haben wir uns dazu entschieden, nicht mehr über die Arbeit von Wikimedia Deutschland bei X, früher Twitter, zu kommunizieren.

^{Wikimedia Deutschland Blog}

The #library of University #Mannheim has left X/ #Twitter:
"As a scientific institution, we are committed to free and open access to information and knowledge and also reject any kind of #extremism, #hatespeech and #disinformation. We have therefore decided to close our account on the #X platform as of January 31, 2024."
blog.bib.uni-mannheim.de/Aktue…

Bravo, Mannheim University Library, for this decisive step!
And don't these values apply to all scientific institutions in Germany?
The UB is now looking into setting up an account on #Mastodon, as @unimannheim already operates.
If you want to help the #universities continue on this path, sign the petition:

👉 openpetition.de/unis4mastodon

#unis4mastodon

The NFDI, which organizes the data management of German research, has left #X / #Twitter.
nfdi.de/the-nfdi-association-a…

The exit was announced and communicated at the end of last year:
„We encourage you to join us in other spaces that support constructive and respectful dialogue.“

Since then, NFDI has shifted its focus in public communication to other platforms such as #Mastodon 🐘 and has put for itself and its consortia
@nfdi4culture @NFDI4Memory @NFDI4Microbiota @NFDI4Chem @nfdi4objects @nfdi4health @punch4nfdi
its own server into operation.

Bravo, @NFDI !

#Together we are taking back #ourInternet.
#UnisInsFediverse 👨‍🎓 👩‍🎓 #Unis4Mastodon

This week, two more research and education networks are leaving X/#Twitter.
The Dutch #SURF & the European #GÉANT have declared their withdrawal as of May 2nd.
connect.geant.org/2024/04/29/g…
surf.nl/en/news/surf-stops-usi…

They justify this with the increase in #HateSpeech and #FakeNews on #X and will now become more active on #Mastodon 🐘.
Bravo @SURF and @geant !!!

#Unis4Mastodon 🌻

Sign the petition to trigger German universities to follow 👇
openpetition.de/Unis4Mastodon

SURF stops using X (Twitter)

From 2 May, SURF will stop using X (formerly Twitter) as its communication channel. The reason is that X no longer matches SURF's public values such as humanity, autonomy and justice.

^SURF.nl