VLDB 2026 Research / reviewers in the wild / expert
Suwani Gunasekara
dblp:402/9745
· DBLP profile ↗
4ranked-venue papers
3as first author
4since 2021 · last 2026
0009-0007-0541-3778ORCID · corroborated
Domains — the database's venue-derived domains; a paper can count in several
Human-computer interaction and ubiquitous computing · 4 · 3 first-author · 4 since 2021
| Year | Publication | Venue | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Timing Matters: Designing Effective Corrections for Short-Form Video MisinformationabstractShort-form video platforms have become major channels for misinformation, with their rich multimodal features making false claims highly believable. HCI research shows that providing corrections in the same modality as the misinformation can be an effective solution. However, since corrections and misinformation convey contradicting information, the order in which one is exposed to them can impact what one believes. We conducted a between-subjects mixed-methods experiment where participants (N=120) rated the credibility of misinformation statements before and after viewing misinformation videos paired with correction videos. Corrections were shown either before, during, or after misinformation. Across all three timings, corrections reduced belief in misinformation, but post-exposure corrections proved most effective and mid-exposure corrections least effective. These findings suggest that correction mechanisms should appear after misinformation exposure, while avoiding mid-exposure interruptions that reduce impact. We outline design recommendations for integrating correction videos into short-form video platforms to improve resilience against misinformation. Suwani Gunasekara, Cherie Sew, Saumya Pareek, Ryan Kelly 0001, Vassilis Kostakos, Jorge Gonçalves 0001 |
CHI | 1 |
| 2026 | Influencers vs. Legacy Media on Instagram: Effects on Perceived Credibility and Following IntentionabstractSocial media has blurred the line between professional journalism and personality-driven commentary, yet we know little about how users evaluate credibility and engage with news from influencers and legacy media when they appear in the same feed. This short paper investigates how political ideology and news source type shape perceived credibility and follow intentions on Instagram. We conducted a mixed-methods experiment where U.S.-based participants (N=120) viewed a set of real news posts and rated the credibility of four accounts (two legacy media–based, two influencer-based), balanced by ideology (two left-leaning, two right-leaning), and indicated whether they would follow each account. Our findings suggest that perceived credibility on Instagram is multi-dimensional, rooted in ideological alignment, yet moderated by institutional signals and perceived authenticity. These insights highlight how platform design and source dynamics can reinforce selective exposure, with implications for both mitigating polarisation and strengthening trust in online news ecosystems. Cherie Sew, Safira Nugroho, Suwani Gunasekara, Adélaïde Genay, Ryan Kelly 0001, Jorge Gonçalves 0001 |
CHI | 3 |
| 2026 | The Role of Presentation Styles in Countering Misinformation on Short Video Platforms CSCW039abstractWhile short video platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels are frequently criticised for facilitating the spread of misinformation, they are also increasingly leveraged as tools for countering it through debunking content. Although video-based corrections have demonstrated effectiveness, their persuasive impact may depend on the richness of their audio-visual elements. This study examines the persuasive efficacy of three fundamental presentation styles commonly used in short-form video content: (1) videos featuring only captions, (2) captions accompanied by relevant images, and (3) captions presented alongside the creator’s visible face. Our results indicate that videos incorporating either relevant and engaging imagery or the creator’s facial presence are significantly more persuasive than those relying solely on captions. Based on these findings, we propose practical recommendations for improving the effectiveness of debunking videos, with the aim of promoting belief revision and mitigating misinformation on short video platforms. Suwani Gunasekara, Cherie Sew, Saumya Pareek, Ryan Kelly 0001, Vassilis Kostakos, Jorge Gonçalves 0001 |
Proc. ACM Hum. Comput. Interact. | 1 |
| 2025 | The Influence of Content Modality on Perceptions of Online MisinformationabstractSocial media has become a primary information source, with platforms evolving from text-based to multi-modal environments that include images and videos. While richer media modalities enhance user engagement, they also increase the spread and perceived credibility of misinformation. Most interventions to counter misinformation on social media are text-based, which may lack the persuasive power of richer modalities. This study explores whether the effectiveness of misinformation correction varies by modality, and if certain modalities of misinformation are better countered by a specific correction modality. We conducted a survey-based experiment where participants rated the credibility of misinformation tweets before and after exposure to corrections, across all combinations of text, images and video modalities. Our findings suggest that corrections are most effective when their modality richness matches that of the original misinformation. We discuss factors affecting the perceived credibility of corrections and offer strategies to optimise misinformation correction. Suwani Gunasekara, Saumya Pareek, Ryan Kelly 0001, Jorge Gonçalves 0001 |
CHI | 1 |