In the misinformation era, more people should say ‘I don’t know’

Páraic Kerrigan is an assistant professor in the school of information and communication studies at University College Dublin

Páraic Kerrigan: I am passionate about reading as a defence against misinformation. Short-form content such as TikTok videos is eroding our attention spans, so I encourage everyone to read books.

What is the core theme of your research?

I look at the ways in which communities can be created or destroyed through information and communication. That’s really the spine of everything I do.

How did that theme develop over time?

I started with my PhD at Maynooth, looking at how traditional broadcast and print media framed LGBTQ minorities. That made me think more broadly about the power of information, misinformation and disinformation. Then, when I moved to UCD’s school of information and communication studies, I started to look at new and emerging technologies, including AI, facial recognition and gender-recognition software. More recently, a project I’m really proud of looked at how public disinformation campaigns around LGBTQ programming in Irish public libraries incited people to make decisions based on false beliefs imported from other jurisdictions.

How do you carry out your research?

I listen to a lot of people. I was originally trained to analyse themes, content and discourse in media, but there was always a social science itch in me to go beyond the text, so I started interviewing producers and editors about their decision-making. From there I pivoted quite firmly toward qualitative interviews and focus groups with people and communities.

What do you wish people knew about online misinformation?

That it’s okay to get things wrong. Being misinformed is actually fine if you’re willing to learn and engage. The problems arise when people are misinformed and are unwilling to change their opinion. I also wish people felt more comfortable saying “I don’t know” and understood that everything is a learning opportunity and nothing is ever a done deal.

What can people do to counter it?

I am passionate about reading as a defence against misinformation. Short-form content such as TikTok videos is eroding our attention spans, so I encourage everyone to read books. I carry a book everywhere, and I read during my commutes on public transport.

Your own latest book is about popular culture, and you became part of pop culture yourself, appearing on The Traitors Ireland. How was that?

I started writing Pop Culchie a couple of years ago, long before even thinking about applying for The Traitors. I just genuinely wanted to play the game. As an adult, what chance do you ever get to run away for two weeks to a castle, cut off from the real world? It was a dream come true.

You are part of a gig for Science Week; tell us more.

I’ll be on the panel at “We love an icon” in the “C’Mere Til I Tell Ye” festival, talking about the celebrities that the LGBTQ+ community embraces. The website is cmere.ie.

And what do you do when you get time off?

As mentioned, I love to read. I also love going to the cinema on my own to watch two or three films in a row, with popcorn and a drink for each one and my phone on aeroplane mode. It’s one of my favourite things. I also love trying restaurants and Guinness with my husband, and rating the quality of the pints. And I have a very deep love of rewatching terrible X Factor auditions. Simple stuff, really. I’m very easy to please.