Niccolò TempiniNov 22, 2022
I am trying to make a case with Dep management for officially discouraging Twitter use and official backing Mastodon. About time... but buy-in is not coming fast. It's like asking people to stop investing in oil – everybody knows they should not be doing it but everybody is still doing it and waiting.
Show threadNiccolò Tempini
Please support the academic migration by boosting/sharing:
Here is a spreadsheet to collect information about Unis/Deps who are considering official support for Mastodon. I suspect many academic institutions would be happy to consider officially supporting Mastodon but are waiting to see others support it.
If you know of any in this position could you please help by filling in this spreadsheet, and circulating as widely as possible? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12umGXDlICrYVUT-DTEcGmj64F8r8HTf3TYR2jC-DMDw/edit?usp=sharing
#Twittermigration #fediverse
Twitter migration – academic institutions

Sheet1 I suspect many academic institutions would be happy to consider officially supporting Mastodon but are waiting to see momentum – nobody wanting to take the leap first. This spreadsheet is an attempt to map the efforts that are underway so that momentum can be better 'massaged' at the loca...

Google Docs
Nov 22, 2022 at 11:15amWeb
Show threadTristan HendersonNov 22, 2022
@n_t tagging @drdrmc
Show threadBruno PratasNov 22, 2022
@n_t
@hugo @brunomiguel
Show threadTimothy MonteathNov 22, 2022
@n_t I have quite a lot of reservations about unis/departments hosting instances. Can I trust a department to not weigh in on the content I post? What about changing instances at the end of every fixed term contract? (Although this will be easier on mastodon than email!) and what about moderation policy towards instances with fascist, will they be responsive? (And would this comply with the proposed Tory higher education bill?)
Show threadTimothy MonteathNov 22, 2022
@n_t I think other scholarly institutions such as learned societies or research networks would be much better placed to provide exactly the same type of service you are envisioning. They are more permissive and pluralistic in their membership, they are not tied to employment and have the freedom (and often do) take strong political and EDI stances that reflect their members interests and beliefs.
Show threadNiccolò TempiniNov 22, 2022
@twm I think you are mostly if not completely right. One issue where Uni could do better than them though could be budget and IT support. Ideally, both options.
Show threadSeth BaumNov 23, 2022
@twm @n_t This seems like the right idea, having learned/professional societies & networks take the lead. It's more inclusive, for example to independent scholars or those (like myself) at small independent institutions. I will reach out to my own society about this (Society for Risk Analysis). Thanks for the suggestion.
Show threadNiccolò TempiniNov 24, 2022
@sethbaum @twm wonderful. It would be great to keep in touch about it. If you can/want to add to the spreadsheet so that we try and keep track of these efforts, it would be great
Show threadNiccolò TempiniNov 22, 2022
@twm Fair points, but I think it depends on who manages it (academics vs management?) and the online culture they want to promote. Ultimately, they would not be able to force people to be on it, that should make them careful about overreach. Similar about membership rules; they do not need to be super strict as in, end of contract, booted out.