She joined Twitter in May 2012. Aix-Marseille University, which claims to be the largest French-speaking university in France with its 80,000 students, has just left the social network this Tuesday, which has since become editorial”. Explanations.
How did the university make this decision?
According to the communications department, Eric Berton, the president of the university, brought together all the departments and components of the university this Tuesday morning to announce his decision to suspend the university’s activity on formerly Twitter). “By withdrawing from the European code of good practices against disinformation and modifying its moderation rules, and science, openness to others and tolerance,” the press release indicates.
Is this a decision linked to the Israel-Hamas war?
The reflection, assures the communications department, was initiated before, “taking into account the editorial evolution of the social network” run by Elon Musk. She thus recalls that Rennes-2 University suspended its activity at the end of August, and Sciences po Toulouse did the same in September (the associated account no longer even exists). Still, “the context has accelerated things,” she acknowledges, and even more so “the European Union’s investigation into Elon Musk’s Company X for its management of violent content and disinformation on the war between Israel and Hamas. »
Is the university calling on its researchers and students to do the same?
“We are withdrawing from Twitter, we are creating a dynamic but then everyone has their own free will, depending on the needs of each other,” says the communications department, which notes that climate specialists, harassed on the network, have already chosen to leave the network. No appeals to the students either. “We are carrying out work to emancipate enlightened citizens,” continues the communications department. This is the only message we carry, to recall our values of commitment against all forms of violence, calls to hatred, and against fake news. » The university will continue to relay its news on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. For other networks, like Mastodon, the reflection is still ongoing.