Media Literacy, Critical Thinking and Why Difficult Conversations Matter

One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is media literacy and the importance of critical thinking — especially in the disability and support sectors.

We live in a time where people are constantly surrounded by information, opinions, headlines, short-form videos, outrage cycles, and algorithm-driven content. Because of that, I think it’s more important than ever that people learn how to step back, ask questions, and think critically about what they are watching and hearing.

That doesn’t mean blindly accepting everything someone says. In fact, it means the opposite. Critical thinking means listening, questioning, researching, comparing viewpoints, and deciding where you personally stand.

I think people like Warren Smith are valuable in that sense because they encourage people to think deeper about media narratives, communication, and how information is presented to us. Whether you agree with every point or not, learning how to analyse media is an important skill.

This is also somewhere I think support workers and support teams can play a really positive role. Media literacy is a life skill. Helping people understand the difference between opinion pieces, news reporting, advertising, political messaging, social media influence, and online outrage is genuinely important — especially as more of our lives move online.

I also think one reason Jordan Peterson connects with some people is because he often says things people may not necessarily want to hear, but sometimes need to hear about responsibility, routine, purpose, and self-improvement. That can feel uncomfortable at times, especially when someone challenges us to do better.

I know he’s a very divisive figure and not everyone agrees with him, and that’s completely okay. Disagreement is normal. But I do think it’s healthy to ask why we disagree with someone. Is it because we genuinely think they’re wrong? Is it because we dislike their style? Or is it because they challenged something uncomfortable? Those are worthwhile questions to reflect on.

I also think it’s worth remembering that disability, mental health, and institutional systems are topics he has discussed through his own professional experiences working in psychology and healthcare environments in Canada, including material that’s publicly available in lectures and interviews online.

At the end of the day, nobody should build their worldview around a single person, creator, politician, influencer, or commentator. The goal should always be to think critically, stay curious, listen widely, and make informed decisions for yourself.

And honestly, I think that applies to all of us — disabled community included. Growth, accountability, purpose, and learning are things everyone can work on in their own way and at their own pace. That’s not an attack on people; it’s part of being human.