A systemic framework for disinformation on social media platforms
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article proposes a systemic perspective for understanding disinformation as a communicative phenomenon embedded in socio-technical environments, particularly social media platforms. Drawing on systems theory and platform studies, it reframes disinformation not as a mere collection of false claims, but as an adaptive system composed of elements situated within a dynamic environment and shaped through relational dynamics. Platforms are understood not as passive hosts, but as structurally coupled systems—primary environments that co-evolve with disinformation systems, reinforcing their circulation through algorithmic affordances and economic incentives. In addition, the article presents a methodological framework that enables researchers to identify and analyze disinformation as a systemic process across diverse contexts. This approach supports a more nuanced understanding of disinformation's resilience and impact, encouraging situated, cross-platform, and relational analyses that move beyond traditional content-based models.
Source: Platforms & Society
Author: Raquel Recuero
Institution: Universidade Federal de Pelotas
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $1,125
Awards: G4337383795, G4342559621, G6140106086
OpenAlex ID: W4413143489