Stefan Johansson

I made an X-it from Twitter a year ago (wrote about it here) and today we within the 99nicu Team also decided that we will delete our Twitter/X account. Our ongoing mission is to foster a global community for neonatal professionals, engaging on platforms that reflect our core values: inclusivity, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue. Twitter used to be such a platform. However, recent shifts in that platform's culture, policies, and overall direction have prompted us to re-evaluate our presence there. We believe that professional networks thrive in environments that prioritize trust, respect, and integrity. As many of you see, Twitter/X is no longer such a network. In short, we leave X and focus our efforts on platforms that better align with our vision and core values. Our focus will be our moderated forums here in 99nicu.org but we will also communicate through our Mastodon-server aka the NICUVERSE and through BlueSky. To our followers on X - thank you for your support and contributions over the years. We hope you will stay connected with us through other channels, where we can better cultivate a sense of belonging and purpose. This isn’t an end, just a shift toward a brighter, more collaborative future for our neonatal community. Let’s keep the conversation alive, just in a better space.

Today on November 17 marks World Prematurity Day, a global initiative to increase awareness about the challenges and impacts of preterm birth. With approximately 1 in 10 babies born prematurely worldwide, this issue touches millions of families and healthcare providers, highlighting the need for collective action and understanding. At 99nicu, we are committed to contributing to this important cause. Preterm birth remains one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality and long-term health issues. However, with the right care, many of these tiny infants can survive and thrive. World Prematurity Day is an opportunity to come together to improve outcomes for preterm infants through education, innovation, and collaboration. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of premature babies and their families. Let’s keep increasing our efforts to ensure that every preterm infant gets the best possible start in life. This year, we contribute to the World Prematurity Day by partnering up with the Adult Preemie Advocacy Network to power a series of webinars throughout November, to raise awareness of the varied long term impacts outside of the NICU into adulthood. Find all info about this webinar series here!

We would like to share our many thanks to Professor Keith Barrington for his support of 99nicu and the NICUVERSE, our Mastodon server designed as a dedicated social space for the neonatology community. In his recent blog post, Keith Barrington highlighted the importance of online networks where neonatal professionals can connect and collaborate. He encouraged neonatologists, neonatal nurses, and other NICU team members to join both platforms, emphasizing the value of accessible, supportive communities where members can freely share research insights, clinical experiences, and more. As one of the most respected voices in neonatal research, his endorsement of 99nicu and the NICUVERSE is not only an honor but a reminder of the power of community in our field. His longstanding dedication to fostering dialogue and education within neonatology has helped elevate these platforms as safe and enriching spaces for global discussion, where newcomers and experienced professionals alike can learn, question, and contribute. While 99nicu.org opened already in 2006, our NICUVERSE is an extension of this mission, a social media platform powered by Mastodon, a non-profit platform, where our community can engage without the distractions or privacy concerns of mainstream social media. Join the NICUVERSE here PS. We are planning a Mastodon webinar soon, stay tuned! PS2. The changing Social Media landscape has also made us explore BlueSky - also a platform with great potential!