Instagram, LinkedIN, Bluesky & Co.: The University of Erfurt in the social networks

Facebook is a social network operated by the US company Meta Platforms. As of January 2022, Facebook is the largest network and the largest messenger. It is possible to create private profiles or public fan pages on the network. In addition, private or public groups can be created by private individuals or fan pages for networking.

In addition to networking private individuals with each other or with pages, Facebook offers the option of posting images, videos, texts or links as posts in your profile or publishing short videos in portrait format (similar to TikTok or Instagram) in the "Watch" section. Events created on Facebook can be marked by users with a confirmation of participation or interest. In addition to networking by following or subscribing to people or pages, groups and Messenger – for which there is a dedicated app – are used for networking.

The University of Erfurt has had its own fan page on Facebook since April 2010. It maintains its own groups there, such as a new "first-year group" created every year, with the aim of answering questions from new students about starting their studies or directing them to the information pages on the University of Erfurt website via links. This measure is in addition to the information sent out centrally by Department 1: Registrar's Office and primarily serves to avoid misinformation in self-organised WhatsApp groups of first-year students and their tutors.

In addition, the University of Erfurt uses the opportunity to create central events such as the Open Day or the Student Orientation Days. In the events organised there, reference is made to the information on the central website.

In addition to targeting prospective students and offering early networking before the start of studies, the University of Erfurt primarily uses its fan page to post articles - especially pictures from everyday university life - and stories (via simultaneous posting on the Instagram network) in order to stay in contact with its employees and former students or to reach the interested public.

Data processed by Facebook:

Information on what data is processed by Facebook and for what purposes can be found in Facebook's privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/

A printable version of the data policy can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update/printable

The University of Erfurt has no influence on the type and scope of the data processed by Facebook, the type of processing and use or the transfer of this data to third parties. It also has no effective control options in this respect.

By using Facebook, your personal data will be collected, transferred, stored, disclosed and used by Facebook Ireland Ltd. and transferred to, stored and used in the United States, Ireland and any other country in which Facebook Ireland Ltd. does business, regardless of your place of residence.

On the one hand, Facebook processes your voluntarily entered data such as name and user name, email address, telephone number or the contacts in your address book when you upload or synchronise it.

On the other hand, Facebook also analyses the content you share to determine which topics you are interested in, stores and processes confidential messages that you send directly to other users and can determine your location using GPS data, information on wireless networks or your IP address in order to send you advertising or other content.

Facebook Ireland Ltd. may use analysis tools such as Facebook Insights or Google Analytics for evaluation purposes. The University of Erfurt has no influence on the use of such tools by Facebook Ireland Ltd. Through Facebook Insights, the University of Erfurt receives certain non-personalised, aggregated information about activity, such as the number of profile or link clicks on a specific post or page, as well as non-personalised information about the origin (country, city), gender (male/female), age and devices used by its fans and followers. Furthermore, the University of Erfurt has no way of preventing or switching off the use of such tools on its Facebook fan page.

Even if you have not created an account, Facebook receives information when you view Facebook content, for example. This "log data" may include the IP address, browser type, operating system, information about the previously accessed website and the pages you accessed, your location, your mobile phone provider, the device you are using (including device ID and application ID), the search terms you used and cookie information.

Facebook buttons or widgets integrated into websites and the use of cookies enable Facebook to record your visits to these websites and assign them to your (Facebook) profile. This data can be used to offer you customised content or advertising. For this reason, the University of Erfurt refrains from using such buttons and widgets as well as unmarked links to Facebook offers on its own websites.

Even if Facebook Ireland Ltd. is a non-European provider that only has a European branch in Ireland, it is bound by the GDPR. This applies, for example, to your rights to information, blocking or deletion of data.

You have the option of restricting the processing of your data in the general settings of your Facebook account under the menu items "Settings and Privacy" listed there.

Further information on these points can be found on the following Facebook support page: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/.

You can find out about the possibility of viewing and downloading your own data on Facebook on the page "Your Facebook information". Here you can also view the activity log and activities outside of Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=your_facebook_information

You also have the option of contacting Facebook's data protection officer via the Facebook data protection form: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/?section_id=13-HowToContactMet

Data processed by the University of Erfurt:

The University of Erfurt also processes your data. It does not collect any data itself via its Facebook account. However, the data you enter on Facebook, in particular your user name and the content published under your account, will be processed by us insofar as we may share your posts or comment on them or write posts from us that refer to your account. The data you freely publish and disseminate on Facebook is thus included by the University of Erfurt in its services and made available to its fans and subscribers.

The University of Erfurt also uses the options offered via the Ad Centre to place advertisements and for market analysis in the meta-products (Facebook and Instagram). Personal data on gender, age and origin is used for this purpose. The University of Erfurt does not have access to detailed data beyond this.

Networking and communication with other Facebook users and fan pages

Subscribing to or liking other Facebook fan pages or liking posts or comments as well as not liking pages and posts by the University of Erfurt does not imply any statement about the relationship of the University of Erfurt to these fan pages and users or the content published by them. The University of Erfurt will not subscribe to all of its subscribers itself. Subscriptions and liking other content serve the purpose of networking in the context of our research and teaching activities.

Manner and purpose of use

The University of Erfurt uses the Facebook network in the manner described in the utilisation concept. It can also be reached via direct messages (Messenger) and will respond to comments where appropriate, insofar as this involves the exchange of information on university-related topics.

For all types of enquiries, contact options outside of Facebook are primarily available, e.g. emails to: marketing@uni-erfurt.de. Detailed counselling, e.g. on studying or study-related topics, is not provided, but the relevant telephone and e-mail contacts at the University of Erfurt are referred to via the website link.