Media Literacy

Media Literacy programs need to include components of psychology, philosophy, and sociology because we are in part critiquing ourselves. 

The four basic components of the communication model are the following:

1. The Message Creator
2. The Message
3. The Medium
4. The Message Recipient

We are the Message Recipient, and we can't exclude ourselves from understanding how communication and influence works. 

With Media Literacy, the objective is to empower the Message Recipient with a set of skills that will help them weigh the merit of their influencing medium(s). The question becomes, how can we as Message Recipients objectively analyze content for legitimacy, honesty, and validity when our personal experiences and ideological beliefs bias us?

In an uncivilized world, our instinct compels us to conform to social standards for our own progress and the survival of the "tribe." In contrast, advanced societies cultivate the concept of personal liberty and encourage individuals to follow their own path. In both settings, the media we consume defines our reality.

To investigate anything critically, we need to make an honest attempt to be objective, as though we are analyzing the subject from a bird's eye view. I argue that a solid Media Literacy program has to begin with an honest assessment of the Message Recipient—ourselves.

What is my cultural background?

What are my political leanings?

What is my spiritual ideology?

What is my income level?

Where did I grow up?

What was my family life like as a child?

Your answers to these personal questions and many more give you a unique perspective on life, but they also create biases and heuristics in your cognitive processes. Your matrix of ideas can either be philosophically empowering or too rigid for an enlightened journey.

Modern media platforms enable all of us to be Message Creators and potentially influence millions of people. These tools can be used for benevolent or malevolent purposes—as detailed in my book The Chameleon. In most cases, these efforts are harmless distractions but they can be manipulative, exploitive, or oppressive. 

Not everyone using new media tools is guided by ethical responsibility and ideological tolerance. Their practices can disempower certain communities or destabilize the cohesiveness of society. Sometimes, this type of communication is delivered completely by accident, where both the Message Creator and the Message Recipient are unaware of how their participation impacts their community. Other times, the social division is by design. 

I firmly believe that education, not censorship, is the cornerstone of advanced Democratic societies. With Freedom of Speech comes the social obligation of educating our children about how they are being influenced, educated, indoctrinated, entertained, or even manipulated.

Modern media platforms can be distracting whether you seek to empower yourself by sovereign practice or theological worship. Media Literacy will give you the skills to help you focus on your journey. And this is where I refer back to The Matrix.