University of Bremen sets an example for a democratic internet!

University of Bremen sets an example for a democratic internet!

The University of Bremen was the first university in Germany to join the “Save Social” initiative with the aim of promoting a free and democratic internet. Loud uni-bremen.de The initiative aims to strengthen alternative open social networks and limit the influence of large technology companies from the USA and China. In particular, “Save Social” warns against the consolidation of opinion power, which poses a threat to democracy.

Jutta Günther, the rector of the University of Bremen, was the first representative of a German university to sign the call. In her statement, she expresses concern about the increasing polarization of society and emphasizes the need to support academic freedom and democratic values. The great influence of a few platforms on the formation of public opinion is a central concern of the initiative, which also includes around 250,000 supporters, as shown on butenunbinnen.de is reported.

A call for solidarity and action

The University of Bremen has left Platform X (formerly Twitter) since 2023 and now uses Mastodon as an alternative social network solution based on decentralized servers. Björn Staschen, a media scientist and co-initiator of “Save Social”, supports this step and sees the initiative as a way to limit the power of tech companies. The signatories of the initiative also include numerous scientists, artists and media professionals who are raising their voices for an open exchange on the Internet.

The initiative has also received support from the German Association of Journalists, the German Union of Journalists and Greenpeace. These groups are calling for active investments by the EU, federal and state governments in the development and user-friendliness of alternative platforms. The focus is on the urgent need to create the possibility for the non-profit operation of such platforms in order to promote democratization in the digital space.

The challenges of digital democracy

The debate about digitalization and its impact on democracy is not new. On bpb.de important questions are raised: What changes does digitalization bring with it, and how are these relevant for political education? Advancing digital networking has not only changed the way we communicate, but has also influenced the structure of the public sphere and the transparency of political institutions.

The problem extends from technical aspects such as the secrecy and traceability of digital elections to an increase in fragmentation and polarization in public opinion. However, there are also positive aspects, as digital communication promotes the repoliticization of democracy by enabling new forms of participation. However, this requires increased political education in order to enable citizens to use digital tools in a reflective manner.

With its commitment to the “Save Social” initiative, the University of Bremen shows a clear positioning towards the challenges of the digital world and their influence on democracy. In a rapidly changing digital environment, promoting open, democratic exchange is crucial.