Telegram and disinformation: A systematic review of toxic content in the age of polycrisis

Through a systematic review, this study explores research at the intersection of Telegram and disinformation, arguing that in an era of polycrisis, marked by heightened uncertainty and evolving forms of misinformation, a fragile information ecosystem has emerged. Within this environment, semi-regulated platforms such as Telegram, have become increasingly prominent as spaces where diverse actors circulate disinformation. This trend highlights the growing need for structured and systematic scientific inquiry into the relationship between Telegram and disinformation. Accordingly, the study examines 34 articles retrieved from three major academic databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and Directory of Open Access (DOAJ). An inductive analytical approach is adopted to enable a multidimensional assessment of the selected studies, focusing on their thematic orientations, methodological designs, and analytical practices. The findings reveal key patterns in how Telegram is conceptualized within the disinformation landscape, identifying dominant research themes and methodological tendencies, as well as core variables that position the platform as a significant hub for misinformation.