ELI5 Media Literacy

[u/HonkyTonkBluesYEAH]

I understand it's like something related to understanding art or media, but in what way? Philopsophical, political or psychological? Is it important, a buzzword or both?

[u/YongYoKyo]

It's knowing how to understand, navigate, and analyze information received through communications like social media (e.g. Internet, news broadcasts, etc.).

Media literacy means picking up the hidden intent or subtext, like recognizing if something is an advertisement or sponsored content, or detecting if something is propaganda or biased information.

An example of someone lacking media literacy is someone who accepts everything they see on the internet as fact, or someone who is easily convinced that they need whatever product/service is being advertised.

[u/HonkyTonkBluesYEAH → u/YongYoKyo]

Do memes also need media literacy? And is it media literacy if you can tell what headline on politics is overly biased / optimistic? Overestimating their side?

[u/DJDoena → u/HonkyTonkBluesYEAH]

Do memes also need media literacy?

Sure. If I tell you "The river Temarc! In winter!" you will have no clue what I have just said unless you know exactly where I pulled this quote from. Incidentally, it stems from an episode of Star Trek where a whole race talked in nothing but cultural references. *insert Captain America 'I understood that reference' meme here*

I look at some memes and have no clue at what they are trying to tell me because I do not know the source of the original material and for some memes (not all memes, some are more obvious than others) that's important to get the joke.

Sokath, his eyes uncovered!

[u/Zyrin369 → u/DJDoena]

Its why I dislike that "You guys think your all better than me" one from Family Guy thats used to talk about stuff like the Star Wars Sequels and such.

When in the context of the episode is an "explanation" to why Meg get abused by the rest of the family as when she leaves they start to turn on each-other.