From Theory to Telegram

This study addresses two central questions: (1) What enabling factors associated with information disorder are identified in the literature? and (2) Which of these factors manifest in anti-vaccine Telegram communities in Brazil, facilitating the spread and normalization of related disinformation? Combining a systematic literature review with empirical analysis of nearly 10 million posts from Brazilian conspiracy theory groups on Telegram (2016–2024), the research identifies 18 enabling factors—classified into sociopolitical and informational ecosystem dimensions—that contribute to information disorder. Of these, 11 are empirically observed in the analyzed Telegram communities. Drawing on both qualitative and computational methods—including time series, content, and link analysis—the study proposes a conceptual model that illustrates how these conditions interact and reinforce one another, creating an environment in which disinformation can flourish. The findings contribute to ongoing theoretical analyses on the sociotechnical dynamics of disinformation.