UvA stops with X, looks at Bluesky

The UvA has decided to stop posting on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The UvA-account with 44,800 followers will only be retained for possible communication during crisis situations, until a suitable alternative is found for that too.

The UvA’s decision does not come out of the blue. More and more universities are choosing to leave X, including recently the VU and previously the University of Utrecht and the University of Twente. The UvA sees that the reach of knowledge institutions on this platform has greatly diminished: for the university an important reason to stop using X. In addition, according to the UvA, the channel has degenerated into an environment where harsh attacks and disinformation seem to prevail. The chances of this changing any time soon are also slim, a press officer informs. “You don’t see any plans to do anything about it.”

Alternatives

In the search for alternatives, the UvA is looking at the fast-growing platform Bluesky, on which more and more of the university’s key target groups - such as other knowledge institutions, students, lecturers - can be found. Folia has also recently become active on this platform. Furthermore, the UvA has started publishing more science news on networking platform Linkedin. “In this way, the university continues to try to reach as many people as possible who benefit from our knowledge,” the UvA press officer said.