Disinformation Dynamics: Designing a Socio-Digital Framework for the Study of Information Disorder

The contemporary digital landscape has witnessed an alarming surge in the dissemination of disinformation and misinformation. While extensive research has been conducted on various facets of disinformation, there remains a gap in creating a comprehensive framework that elucidates its complex sociotechnical dynamics. This study adopts an ecological perspective, drawing upon insights from communication ecology to provide a holistic understanding of the disinformation phenomenon. This paper aims to propose a general framework that can serve as a compass for navigating the extensive scientific literature on disinformation. We focus on its digital dimension, considering the role of platforms, the characteristics of disinformation content, and the dynamics of interconnected publics. The primary goal is to offer a flexible framework that accommodates the multifaceted nature of disinformation and guides empirical research in this area. Our analysis encompasses a range of key factors, including the intertwining of mass and interpersonal communication in digital platforms, algorithm-driven content distortion, and the computational construction of reality. We identify the significance of these factors in shaping the contemporary disinformation landscape and categorize the components that influence the process. These include platforms, content characteristics, and networked publics. While not a definitive model, this framework provides a valuable reference point for understanding disinformation's underlying sociotechnical dynamics. It enables scholars to integrate a wide array of research findings into a coherent perspective and offers insights into the 'how' and 'why' of disinformation. Further refinements and improvements are expected as new research emerges, contributing to a better comprehension of the multifaceted disinformation phenomenon in the ever-evolving digital age