Utrecht University quits X

Utrecht University quits X

As Utrecht University, we choose to no longer use X (formerly Twitter) as part of our communication strategy.

In recent years, UU's reach on X has decreased compared to other platforms, such as LinkedIn. In addition, we have seen how X, often more than other platforms, struggles with the rise of disinformation, fake accounts and online harassment. This undermines trust in the authenticity of interactions on the platform and makes it difficult to engage in constructive and meaningful dialogues.

In practice, this means that the @UniUtrecht account has stopped posting new tweets and responding to others for some time now. For the time being, the existing tweets remain preserved and accessible.

Moreover, in the news items on our website, the button to share the news item on X is removed.

This decision only applies to the account of the university itself, @UniUtrecht. We encourage all members of our academic community to consider the reasons for the decision to discontinue X in their own use of the medium.

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Utrecht research on disinformation

Whether it's about climate change, COVID-19 or the war in Ukraine: disinformation is plaguing the online spaces we rely on to understand and engage with the world around us. In the longread Disinformation business, several researchers provide insight into how fake news is created and spread.