Online Health Communities in Controversy over ME/CFS and Long Covid

The condition known variously as myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS has been steeped in controversy for 40 years more. Long Covid, first noticed and named 2020, become entangled with the because of striking similarities experiences patients suffering from two illnesses. Online health communities (OHCs) have played central roles both controversies, but these are not kinds that so well-documented prior literature. While research established many ways which participation an OHC may benefit otherwise affect community members themselves, this essay focuses on how OHCs contribute to positional shifts controversies involve other well. Using a framework understanding argumentative polylogues, I show arguing players made contributions effective gaining ground OHCs' own goals elevating overall quality debate. Further, some cases innovative suggest surprising future trajectories OHCs.