Rutgers Department Quits Twitter Over ‘Unmitigated Hate Speech’

NEWARK, NJ — The Rutgers School of Public Health is saying goodbye to Twitter.

On Tuesday, university administrators announced that the department has “left Twitter.” While the school’s account will remain a “digital relic,” it will no longer be active. The School of Public Health will remain active on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

The department's profile had 2,729 followers as of Tuesday.

The decision only applies to the university’s School of Public Health, not the general campus account or any other department, a spokesperson confirmed.

Administrators referenced Elon Musk’s recent takeover of Twitter as the reason why they’re leaving the social media giant. Read More: MSU Study Finds Hate Speech On Twitter Increased After Takeover

“Over the course of the last few weeks, it has become clear to us that the issues afflicting Twitter continue to grow in magnitude,” said Perry Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health.

“As a school that is rooted in the tenets of social justice and health equity, we will not be part of a digital community that is rife with unrestricted and unmitigated hate speech and discrimination,” Halkitis said. “We know that hate and discrimination undermine the health of people and populations, which goes against our ethos as a leading public health institution.”

Michelle Edelstein, director of marketing and communications, also supported the decision to leave Twitter.

“Simply put, we will not contribute to an entity that actively jeopardizes people’s health by propagating false information and elevating hateful voices,” Edelstein said. “As we continue to lead from the intersection of innovation and strategy, we are focusing our efforts on improving and increasing our presence on our other social media channels.”

Other New Jersey community leaders concerned about the evolution of Twitter include U.S. senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, who recently called for federal authorities to crack down on the company alongside several of their peers in the Senate. Read More: Menendez, Booker Say Feds Need To Crack Down On Twitter

“According to recent reports, under Musk’s leadership, the company has dismissed key staff, limited internal privacy reviews, and required engineers to take on legal liability for new changes, in an effort to prioritize profits and cut costs,” Menendez said last month.

“Senior Twitter executives responsible for the platform’s privacy, cybersecurity, and integrity have also resigned in the past days, raising further alarm,” the senator added.

Musk's reply? A tweet mocking their effort.

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