A systemic framework for disinformation on social media platforms

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.