even new forms

New concerns about the effect of social media on the information ecosystem
likewise emerged, as did new measures taken by the platforms to address them.
Medical disinformation spread on social media, with false claims about the
origins and spread of the virus and quack cures to address it gaining signiﬁcant
audiences. The platforms responded with dramatic and unprecedented
measures: aggressive ﬁltering of content deemed problematic, promotion of
content from respected (particularly governmental) sources, and dedicated
portions of their websites to assist in providing accurate information and
assisting in logistics related to the pandemic response. In many respects, it

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https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108890960 Published online by Cambridge University Press

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Preface
Social_Media_and_Democracy