Herr Schorsch

**Wo bleiben die Universitäten im Fediverse?**

Warum betreiben Universitäten nicht schon längst eigene Mastodon-Instanzen?

Warum bekommen Studierende nicht mit der Immatrikulation auch einen Mastodon-Handle?

Warum hosten Universitäten Vorlesungsvideos nicht über PeerTube im Fediverse?

Es gibt einiges, das für ein stärkeres Engagement von Universitäten im Fediverse spricht.

Ein Aufruf den man nur unterstützen kann! #boost
#fediverse #university @leonido
https://netzpolitik.org/2023/aufruf-hochschulen-aller-laender-ins-fediverse/

Aufruf: Hochschulen aller Länder ins Fediverse!

Während viel über ein mögliches Engagement öffentlich-rechtlicher Medien im Fediverse diskutiert wird, sind die Potenziale von Fediverse-Instanzen von Hochschulen bislang kaum Thema. Dabei wäre es höchste Zeit, dass sich gerade Hochschulen ins Fediverse begeben. Ein Aufruf.

netzpolitik.org
Nov 18, 2023 at 3:29amWeb
Show threadHerr SchorschNov 18, 2023

English Version
**Where are the universities in the Fediverse?**

Why don't universities have their own Mastodon instances yet?

Why don't students get a Mastodon handle when they enrol?

Why don't universities host lecture videos on PeerTube in the Fediverse?

There is a lot to be said for universities getting more involved in the Fediverse.

A call that can only be supported! #boost

#fediverse #university @leonido
https://netzpolitik.org/2023/a-call-to-action-universities-of-the-world-into-the-fediverse/

A Call to Action: Universities of the World, Join the Fediverse!

While there is a lot of discussion about new Twitter alternatives and the relevance of journalists and other critical groups of users, the potential of university-based Fediverse instances has hardly been addressed. It is high time for universities to get involved in the Fediverse. This is a call to action.

netzpolitik.org
Show threadDr David MillsNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch many universities have bought into Microsoft office 365 wholesale, it would take MS or another approved IT contractor to offer the service for it to be even considered.
Show threadFirehorseart Lives!Nov 18, 2023

@radlschorsch

I suspect that UK universities are limited by government policy and contract agreements as to what official platforms they can use

That said, I'm sure there must be a lot of personal Fedi accounts in @academicchatter @edutooters and so on.

Can any academics comment?

 
#fediverse #Universities #education

Show threadBenjamin S-B Nov 18, 2023
@srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters I don't think this has to do with "government policy", but rather with a) inertia and b) avoiding the responsibility of content moderation. The latter, I think, is unfortunately a big one. Universities would feel exposed to legal and reputational risks for posts disseminated on "their" fedi instance.
Show threadRichard ShawNov 18, 2023

@srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters

Academics can generally use any platform they like. Attempts by management to limit this will generally lead to a revolt.

However, academics on social media tend to be those most in need of attention. I can think of dozens who joined Mastodons last year, with many of the most vocal, saying how awful twitter was.

Most have quietly gone back to X, to get the attention they crave.

Show threadCraig FroehleNov 18, 2023
@RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters
[hesitantly raises hand] I'm an academic and the only social media platform I use mainly for professional use is LinkedIn. My others are primarily or strictly personal. That said, the Xitter meltdown led me to create this account mostly in search of community, not fame or a platform. Not finding it here, I've started using Reddit more, which is great for my topic-focused info-gathering needs. I'm online mostly to learn.
Show threadElisabeth MNov 18, 2023
@cra1g
I find the academic discourse here waaaay better than on the birdsite
@RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters
Show threadCraig FroehleNov 18, 2023
@independentpen @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters Certainly is! My use of Xitter (pronounced shi***r) is now about one check-in a week just to keep Elmo from locking me out for lack of use -- I still hope he sells it some day to a responsible actor.
Show threadElisabeth MNov 18, 2023
@cra1g
I'm sad to hear you're not finding community here. Care to say more? I have felt so at home on this platform but I know that's not a universal experience
@RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters
Show threadCraig FroehleNov 18, 2023
@independentpen @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters Just not as much diversity of original sources here as on some other platforms, and the federated nature makes it hard to find actual communities instead of just one-off individuals.
Show threadnellie-mNov 19, 2023

@cra1g @independentpen @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters

agree that federation poses somewhat of a challenge, especially for small instances. What I’ve found useful:
- follow and use hashtags. That’s something I feel ex-Twitter users don’t do enough. If you’re an admin on a small server, use https://relay.fedi.buzz/ to get them pushed to you.
- browse https://fedi.directory for interesting accounts.
1/2

#FediBuzz Relay

The buzzing ActivityPub relay service

Show threadGabriele PollaraNov 18, 2023
@cra1g @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters I echo that sentiment Craig. The draw to twitter has been the community for discussion, networking and learning, not really the attention. The problem is that the few attention seekers out there end up drawing in the crowd, so it sucks in with it many others in the field too, creating the network effect that any other platform struggles to overcome.
Show threadHerr SchorschNov 18, 2023
@gpollara @cra1g @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters I would like to draw your attention to this blog post from the University of Groningen:
https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/blog/take-back-control-of-research-communication-embrace-mastodon
Take back control of research communication, embrace Mastodon

University of Groningen
Show threadCraig FroehleNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch @gpollara @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters It seems obvious that companies and universities that produce a lot of communication should consider hosting a dedicated Fediverse server. So many advantages with so few costs.
Show threadSteven D. Brewer 🏳️‍⚧️Nov 19, 2023
@cra1g @radlschorsch @gpollara @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters As @Dtl said, Universities aren't hosting anything anymore: they've let most of their technical staff go and contract with giant vendors for services. It's very sad.
Show threadCraig FroehleNov 19, 2023
@stevendbrewer @radlschorsch @gpollara @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters @Dtl My university is a radical, then, as we host a lot of things (recently started up a new computing cluster on campus) and have more IT staff today than when I started 20+ years ago.
Show threadSteven D. Brewer 🏳️‍⚧️Nov 19, 2023
@cra1g @radlschorsch @gpollara @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters @Dtl Yep. We have almost nothing "on prem" anymore.
Show threadVincent TraagNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch @gpollara @cra1g @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters to this I'd like to add our blog post that accompanied setting up our own server @cwts
https://www.leidenmadtrics.nl/articles/take-responsibility-for-social-media
Take responsibility for social media

With many former Twitter users looking for alternatives, the decentralised Mastodon platform is on the rise. But decentralisation alone is not enough: institutions should take responsibility and host their own Mastodon server.

Show threadrspNov 19, 2023
@vtraag @radlschorsch @gpollara @cra1g @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @academicchatter @edutooters @cwts Our university has almost no IT staff...mostly student workers. Noone to set it up and noone to moderate.
Show threadLance BachmeierNov 18, 2023
@RichardShaw Twitter's great for high-ego academics that want to talk at people. Mastodon is better for talking with people rather than at them. I'm sure they were deeply disappointed when they tried Mastodon.
Show threadThaiis Thei 𓁟Nov 19, 2023
@RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters I have also noticed that the great bulk of academics who came here last November are gone.
Show threadThaiis Thei 𓁟Nov 19, 2023
@RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters But then the great bulk of academics are busy destroying academia by means of the great publishing scam so I shouldn't be surprised.
Show threadRichard ShawNov 20, 2023

@Oozenet @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters

The publishing scam is just a side effect.

I think the real problem with academia is that it trains people to think like very poor middle managers, who rather than solve problems pursue badly corrupted metrics in order to advance their careers.

Show threadThaiis Thei 𓁟Nov 20, 2023
@RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters 100% agree. We are absolutely at that place where career advancement is more important to most academics than building a robust, ethics based, sustainable academic environment that nourishes students and staff. i.e. we are so fucked. But, don't feel like I am picking on academia, it is a society wide effect.
Show threadSara HjelmNov 20, 2023
@Oozenet @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters
It’s definitely a system thing …
Every new professor & research student should be forced to read Stuart Richie’s Science Fictions as an introduction ;)
Show threadGabriele PollaraNov 20, 2023
@Oozenet @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters I must say that saddens me. Many were put off by the 'complexity' here. Perhaps that was fair, but also unfortunate, as this place has improved vastly in terms of features and UI, but by the time this has happened, most have left and won't give a second look. #Mastodon was almost too ready but not ready enough last year!
Show threadThaiis Thei 𓁟Nov 20, 2023
@gpollara @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters Honestly if one is smart enough to be an academic the operation of Mastodon should not vex one.
Show threadDr. Juande Santander-VelaNov 20, 2023
@Oozenet @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters in which areas? The
astrophysics oriented academic presence is strong…
Show threadThaiis Thei 𓁟Nov 20, 2023
@juandesant @RichardShaw @srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters I'm religion, history, anthropology, sociology, archeology and IT. Only IT has remained steady.
Show threadSarah ArnoldNov 19, 2023
@srfirehorseart @radlschorsch @academicchatter @edutooters I don't think it's a policy thing - not aware of anything stopping e.g. a Biology department getting a Mastodon account - and more that the staff/resources around comms/social media can be limited, so they'll tend to focus on max. reach to target audiences (students/partners/funders), which means "trendy" and high traffic options like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok. Not a lot of time to invest in nurturing a Mastodon.
Show threadMichiel BontenbalNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido all Dutch scientists can use an account provided by @SURF and my institution @hva has a presence. That’s a start.
Show threadDavid LohnerNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch
For those who need inspiration, what may be possible for universities: https://davidlohner.de/2023/07/a-fedi-vision/
@leonido
A Fedi-Vision – David Lohner

Show threadlukesciNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch mastodon.mit.edu exists! :D
Show threadLethNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido I've thought about that, too. Schools could (should) just defederate from ALL other instances, like Truth Social does. Just like there is very little reason to use a school email as a general-purpose email, there's very little reason for the school to pretend that their social network ought to be anything but a SCHOOL social network. Maybe they could open their instances to some other schools, but that shouldn't be the default.
Show threadPrentiss Riddle 🎛Nov 19, 2023

@lethargilistic @radlschorsch @leonido The universities I've worked at give students a free email address for life for two reasons:

- They want to reach of their alumni network to be visible far and wide.

- They want the alumni to be reminded constantly of their connection to their alma mater so they'll dig deep at fund drive time.

Show threadGrant_HNov 18, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido

@Bibliothecaris is Groningen Library, I think. The fediverse is still busy building connections!

Show threadUniversityofGroningenLibraryNov 18, 2023

@grant_h @radlschorsch @leonido Thanks for tagging us. We're indeed the University of Groningen Library and we quit the birdsite a month ago.
More inspiration for academics to join Mastodon:
https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/blog/take-back-control-of-research-communication-embrace-mastodon

@SURF provides a pilot instance for Dutch academic institutions, scholars and students https://www.surf.nl/en/about-the-mastodon-pilot / https://social.edu.nl/about
SURF is the collaborative organisation for IT in Dutch education and research.

Take back control of research communication, embrace Mastodon

University of Groningen
Show threadrspNov 18, 2023
@Bibliothecaris @grant_h @radlschorsch @leonido @SURF I bet folks would like to read some commentary on the details surrounding content moderation by university instances.
Show threadRozzychanNov 18, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido

#Universities are conservative.
Their administrators are not jumping to new technologies for administration.

They are afraid of ransomware and failing to protect data. They are banning TicToc and employing IT workers trained in Windows-only environments.

Don't look to administrators to join the #fediverse. Look to #students to lead the way.

Show threadProf Heino FalckeNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch Have a look at @Radboud_uni - they made mastodon their primary social medium …
Show threadHerr SchorschNov 18, 2023

@hfalcke @Radboud_uni okay, a good start! But: this is not the university's own server to which all students automatically have access.

This opens up completely new aspects.
Also for scientific communication with other scientists at other institutes.

Show threadPlumeria SpiralNov 18, 2023

Are you asking the students, the teachers or the admissions? Knowing the answer is yes, who would they ask to implement that?

@radlschorsch @leonido

Show threadLukeNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch my University and a lot of my colleagues are both here and not here for unfortunately (or if unfortunately (or fortunately given the drivel I mostly post).
Show threadMікє ВυггNov 18, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido

There are unseen #universities in #discworld

Show threadCamNov 18, 2023
@mburr @radlschorsch @leonido NVNC ID VIDES, NVNC NE VIDES
Show threadMікє ВυггNov 18, 2023

@bitflipped @radlschorsch @leonido

Like my tuition money amirite?

Show threadDoc ImpossibleNov 18, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido To answer your question: American universities aren't here because potential donors and/or rich alumni aren't here. University administration just doesn't care about anything that isn't donor money these days, sadly, and most US universities have very strict rules precluding any social media representation without their explicit approval.
Show threadscientistNov 18, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido

Generally, many adults are "creatures" of habit. Or at least, the "machine", the economy, the workplace, the marketplace, the societies social norms and values, have a habit of being more conservative than socially progressive.

Add onto that how institutions have their social norms and values (usual ways of doing things), conformity. obedience, business alliances; and it's no surprise, to me at least, that the "world" seems to resist a change for the good.

Show threadFoxy🦊Nov 19, 2023

@radlschorsch
The Netherlands University system already has its own instance by @SLURF

@leonido

Show threadPrentiss Riddle 🎛Nov 19, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido I was a university webmaster in the early 90s when universities first rolled out departmental and personal websites, and I couldn't agree more.

Faculty in particular should welcome a professionally run, institutionally stable instance.

But I've seen two common objections from IT staff:

- Mastodon is the flavor of the month and we've seen a thousand of those before

- We don't have the capacity for yet another moderation / liability headache

Show threadminfuNov 19, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido
Probably a basic issue such as liability / responsibility. Probably better for a third party to run the instance to avoid liability for the university.
Show threadDaniel DuqueNov 19, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido This same question has raised regarding cloud storage about 10 yrs ago, when many of us where hooked to dropbox. Now many universities embrace open solutions, like #owncloud.

It's time to take this to social media!

Show threadSuperdave!Nov 20, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido It would seem natural for a university to run an instance(s) of fediversal things.
Show threadThe Mayor 🏵️ of oslo.townNov 20, 2023

@radlschorsch @leonido We're proud to host the account for @unioslo (even though they aren't so active) 😊

There's also a whole instance that has been set up for tech students from @unioslo too: https://mastodon.babb.no

If the university were to run an instance I would imagine it would be for staff only, rather than students - due to legal matters and privacy compliance.

Babb.no

This Norwegian Mastodon server is an unofficial meeting place for University of Oslo people, and more!

Mastodon hosted on babb.no
Show threadBenjamin Kwiecień 🇵🇸Nov 20, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido well, all of this stuff will cost them money and require competent workers, something they will not do easily
Show threadvandysNov 20, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido Universities are dedicated to serving up well-conditioned human resources for the use of corporations and governments. In what way does exposing young minds to decentralization help with this process?
Show threadVesna ManojlovićNov 21, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido one word: eduroam
Show threadEllie (migrated for summer)Nov 22, 2023
@radlschorsch @leonido ...why would *anyone* want their social media to be hosted by their uni