Media Literacy: Why Orwell, AI, Fandoms, Reddit, and a Poop Knife All Belong in the Same Conversatio

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If someone had told me a few years ago that a discussion about media literacy would eventually include George Orwell, artificial intelligence, NDIS reforms, Star Wars, fandom culture, George Carlin, support work, and something called "The Poop Knife," I probably would have questioned their planning process.

And yet, here we are.

The funny thing is that media literacy isn't really about media.

It's about people.

It's about how we learn, who we trust, where we get our information, and how we make decisions in an increasingly noisy world.

For support workers, participants, families, students, and frankly anyone with an internet connection, these questions matter more than ever.

What Is Media Literacy?

Media literacy isn't simply spotting fake news.

It's understanding:

• Who created this?

• Why did they create it?

• Who benefits?

• What's missing?

• Can I verify it?

Those questions apply whether you're reading a scientific paper, watching a TikTok, listening to a podcast, scrolling Reddit, or using an AI tool.

The goal isn't to become an expert in everything.

The goal is to become better at asking questions.

The Internet Is a Culture, Not Just a Tool

One of the themes that emerged during our discussion was that the internet isn't just something we use anymore.

It's somewhere we live.

Communities form around creators, hobbies, causes, ideas, and shared experiences. Some are educational. Some are entertaining. Some are completely chaotic.

And sometimes they create their own folklore.

Take Reddit's infamous "Poop Knife" story.

A single anonymous anecdote became one of the internet's most recognisable pieces of folklore. Millions of people know the reference despite never having read the original post.

Whether it's true almost becomes secondary.

The story spread because it was memorable.

That's a useful reminder:

Virality and accuracy are not the same thing.

Why Context Matters

One of the most important skills we can develop is situational awareness.

A sales page, a peer-reviewed journal article, a government website, a YouTube channel, and a social media post might all discuss the same topic.

That doesn't mean they're serving the same purpose.

A supplement company wants to sell a product.

A scientific journal wants to publish evidence.

A creator may want to entertain.

An advocate may want to persuade.

Understanding context helps us understand information.

AI Is a Tool, Not an Oracle

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life.

Used well, it can help organise information, brainstorm ideas, summarise complex topics, and support learning.

Used poorly, it can create a false sense of certainty.

One of the most important lessons for modern learners is that confidence and accuracy are not the same thing.

That applies to AI.

It applies to social media.

It applies to news.

And it applies to people.

Learning Doesn't Stop After School

One of the most encouraging parts of our conversation was the number of learning resources people are using every day.

Books.

Podcasts.

YouTube channels.

Online courses.

Libraries.

Creators sharing lived experience.

The idea that learning ends when formal education ends is one of the biggest myths around.

Some of the best learning happens when curiosity leads the way.

Recommended Resources

Books

• Atomic Habits — James Clear

• How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie

• Manufacturing Consent — Noam Chomsky & Edward S. Herman

• The Coddling of the American Mind — Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt

• A Short History of Nearly Everything — Bill Bryson

• Animal Farm — George Orwell

• 1984 — George Orwell

• To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee

• Of Mice and Men — John Steinbeck

• The Cook's Companion — Stephanie Alexander

Podcasts

• No Such Thing As A Fish

• Freakonomics Radio

• Diary of a CEO

• Do You F***ing Mind?

• The Why Files

• The Telepathy Tapes

Learning Platforms

• Alison

• Coursera

• LinkedIn Learning

• Your local library's digital learning resources

The Real Goal

The goal of media literacy isn't to make people cynical.

It's not to make people distrust everything.

It's to help people stay curious while thinking critically.

To ask better questions.

To seek better information.

To recognise the difference between evidence, opinion, entertainment, advertising, and storytelling.

And perhaps most importantly:

To remain open to learning.

Because whether you're navigating the NDIS, researching a health question, learning a new skill, exploring history, or trying to understand the latest internet trend, the same principle applies.

You don't need to know everything.

You just need to know how to learn.

And occasionally, thanks to the internet, that learning journey may involve Orwell, AI, fandom culture, and a story about a poop knife.

Strange times. But fascinating ones.