Getting active on social networks

If you’re already active on social media, we’ll be happy to provide advice and support, too.

How to use social media at RUB

Our social media guidelines offer you assistance in handling social networks. Here you will find tips, rules and laws that you should follow if you want to use social networks as an institution or as a member of Ruhr University Bochum (RUB).

Corporate design on social media

For all academic and non-academic institutions of Ruhr University, we also recommend using the RUB corporate design on social media wherever possible. Due to the diversity and dynamics of social media, there are no fixed guidelines.

Basically, you can find information, material and advice on RUB's corporate design at our Agency for Brand Communication. As a service, the agency offers six cover images for social media appearances of RUB institutions (see below: Download high-resolution images).

Comment guidelines

On all RUB channels in social media, we ask for respectful interaction and compliance with some common and legal rules. They can be found in the netiquette.

• Netiquette

Moderation of comments and messages

Presence on social media platforms only really comes to life through the exchange with the people who are addressed there. By moderating the comments under the posts and through direct messages, so-called community management, you can receive valuable feedback and suggestions from your community and answer important questions and resolve ambiguities.

In addition to constructive criticism and positive feedback, destructive comments and, in individual cases, hate speech or legal violations also occur from time to time. Support for dealing with these challenges is available from RUB-internal as well as external bodies.

RUB-internal:

• In 2023, we published a new comment policy for RUB social media, including a new netiquette, which may be used by all RUB institutions and employees.
• The Research School regularly offers workshops on topics such as science communication.
• If there is an urgent need for consultation, we as the editorial team in Corporate Communications are always at your disposal.

External to RUB:

• Scicomm Support supports and advises scientists and science communicators in case of attacks and unobjective conflicts in science communication (including partners such as Hate Aid, Mobile Beratung gegen Rechtsextremismus NRW and legal advice).
• National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) is an institute that promotes the comprehensibility and science communication of research and teaching.
• Neue Medienmacher offers tips and tools for dealing with hate online.

First aid guide

In recent years, the tone and hostility towards academics and academic institutions has become increasingly harsh, and social media has made disputes much more dynamic and escalating.

If you are attacked in the context of your work at RUB, these first aid measures are immediately available to you.

RUB in social media

On Instagram, the editorial department of RUB shows the hustle and bustle at RUB in pictures and videos. Regularly it's about studying, student life between GD and ID, important dates, beautiful places and that special something of RUB.

On the Instagram channel @RuhrUniEvents, the editorial team of the Department of University Communication advertises selected events of the institutions of Ruhr University Bochum. As an institution, you can send details of your events directly to the editorial team via an online form.

Founding and working at RUB: On the career network LinkedIn, we offer information, services and insights into how RUB transfers its knowledge and skills to the world of business and work and why it is an attractive location for entrepreneurs and employers.

On BlueSky, we offer information from RUB on academic topics and university politics, showcase the university's successes and reports from its members, and provide insights into campus life.

On our YouTube channel you will find promotional films and videos on campus life.

We post the most relevant news from the campus on the Facebook page.