Matthew Johnson
@matthewfjohnson.bsky.social
Director of Education for MediaSmarts, Canada's centre for digital media literacy. He/him. Open to correction.
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
November 9, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
November 13 is World Kindness Day! Here’s a free lesson plan to teach Grade 7-9 students practical strategies for positively intervening when they witness bullying online: https://ow.ly/VaQ750XojBc
November 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
November 13 is World Kindness Day! Here’s a free lesson plan to teach Grade 7-9 students practical strategies for positively intervening when they witness bullying online: https://ow.ly/VaQ750XojBc
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
BBC really burying the lede there
November 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
BBC really burying the lede there
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
As online spaces grow more hostile, our stories of joy, connection, and community matter more than ever. 💻❤️
💌 Share your story here: tr.ee/digitaldelights or drop it in the comments below!
#2SLGBTQIA #QueerJoy
💌 Share your story here: tr.ee/digitaldelights or drop it in the comments below!
#2SLGBTQIA #QueerJoy
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
As online spaces grow more hostile, our stories of joy, connection, and community matter more than ever. 💻❤️
💌 Share your story here: tr.ee/digitaldelights or drop it in the comments below!
#2SLGBTQIA #QueerJoy
💌 Share your story here: tr.ee/digitaldelights or drop it in the comments below!
#2SLGBTQIA #QueerJoy
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
It’s #StressAwarenessWeek! Help your kids and teens develop healthy media habits with these helpful tips: https://ow.ly/xP3E50XnPOw
November 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
It’s #StressAwarenessWeek! Help your kids and teens develop healthy media habits with these helpful tips: https://ow.ly/xP3E50XnPOw
Art becomes life becomes art
The story goes, that as part of the media blitz for the Beatles arrival, the Washington Post called up Irv Robbins, and asked if the chain was planning a Beatles flavor. They weren't, but he blurted out, "yeah, Beatle nut!" He then reportedly developed and rolled it out in 5 days.
November 6, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Art becomes life becomes art
Try to remember, the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should folllow
Follow follow follow follow
From "F for Fantastick"
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should folllow
Follow follow follow follow
From "F for Fantastick"
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Try to remember, the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should folllow
Follow follow follow follow
From "F for Fantastick"
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should folllow
Follow follow follow follow
From "F for Fantastick"
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Research opportunity! I’m studying how traditional media literacy instruction adapts to digital challenges like memes & algorithms. Seeking librarians & educators with media literacy experience for a short confidential interview. Interested? forms.gle/bZs7JfVxCfeN... #MediaLiteracy TC IRB 25-496
Screening Questionnaire: Beyond Information Literacy
Study: Beyond Traditional Information Literacy: Educator Perspectives on Digital Memetic Content
IRB Protocol Number: Teachers College IRB 25-496
Thank you for your interest in participating in this...
forms.gle
October 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Research opportunity! I’m studying how traditional media literacy instruction adapts to digital challenges like memes & algorithms. Seeking librarians & educators with media literacy experience for a short confidential interview. Interested? forms.gle/bZs7JfVxCfeN... #MediaLiteracy TC IRB 25-496
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
"You will be haunted," resumed the Ghost, "by three spirits."
October 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"You will be haunted," resumed the Ghost, "by three spirits."
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Fake authors. Fake books. Fake remedies.
Detection firm finds 82% of herbal remedy books on Amazon ‘likely written’ by AI www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Study finds "AI 'slop' has come for herbalism."
"...damning revelation of the sheer scope of unlabelled, unverified, unchecked..."
Detection firm finds 82% of herbal remedy books on Amazon ‘likely written’ by AI www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Study finds "AI 'slop' has come for herbalism."
"...damning revelation of the sheer scope of unlabelled, unverified, unchecked..."
Detection firm finds 82% of herbal remedy books on Amazon ‘likely written’ by AI
Originality.ai scans 558 titles in herbal remedies section between January and September
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Fake authors. Fake books. Fake remedies.
Detection firm finds 82% of herbal remedy books on Amazon ‘likely written’ by AI www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Study finds "AI 'slop' has come for herbalism."
"...damning revelation of the sheer scope of unlabelled, unverified, unchecked..."
Detection firm finds 82% of herbal remedy books on Amazon ‘likely written’ by AI www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Study finds "AI 'slop' has come for herbalism."
"...damning revelation of the sheer scope of unlabelled, unverified, unchecked..."
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
MORE GOOD NEWS ON CRIME.
It’s hard to fight the vibes on crime that so many fight to make as dour as possible.
But the reality, however much it gets under-reported when it isn’t bad, is that HUGELY HISTORIC DROPS IN VIOLENCE ARE CONTINUING.
It’s hard to fight the vibes on crime that so many fight to make as dour as possible.
But the reality, however much it gets under-reported when it isn’t bad, is that HUGELY HISTORIC DROPS IN VIOLENCE ARE CONTINUING.
Another month with a large drop in shooting victims in the Gun Violence Archive. Overall, shootings are down nearly 16% in 2025 compared to YTD 2024 suggesting the big drop in murder is continuing.
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
MORE GOOD NEWS ON CRIME.
It’s hard to fight the vibes on crime that so many fight to make as dour as possible.
But the reality, however much it gets under-reported when it isn’t bad, is that HUGELY HISTORIC DROPS IN VIOLENCE ARE CONTINUING.
It’s hard to fight the vibes on crime that so many fight to make as dour as possible.
But the reality, however much it gets under-reported when it isn’t bad, is that HUGELY HISTORIC DROPS IN VIOLENCE ARE CONTINUING.
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
This is one of the activities that makes up a general arc of things I do in workshops. You can see all those activities with explanations and examples to do on your own here spinweaveandcut.com/comics-works...
Comics Workshop for Teachers
spinweaveandcut.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This is one of the activities that makes up a general arc of things I do in workshops. You can see all those activities with explanations and examples to do on your own here spinweaveandcut.com/comics-works...
I heard there were some trunkless legs
That stood in sand like stony pegs
But you don't know whose shattered visage it was
With wrinkled lip, commanding sneer
On pedestal, these words appear,
Now look upon the works of Ozymandias
Ozymandias, Ozymandias, Ozyma-a-a-ndias
That stood in sand like stony pegs
But you don't know whose shattered visage it was
With wrinkled lip, commanding sneer
On pedestal, these words appear,
Now look upon the works of Ozymandias
Ozymandias, Ozymandias, Ozyma-a-a-ndias
Once upon a desert sandy
As through winds the trav'ling man he
Spied the face of Ozymandy
Lying, simply lying there
Suddenly there was some writing
Pon the plinth that he was sighting
That the sand and time were blighting
Quoth the statue, "Now despair"
As through winds the trav'ling man he
Spied the face of Ozymandy
Lying, simply lying there
Suddenly there was some writing
Pon the plinth that he was sighting
That the sand and time were blighting
Quoth the statue, "Now despair"
There was an old man you could gaze
At his works in despair in a daze
If you looked upon them
And were mere mortal men
'Ozymandias mighty', it says
At his works in despair in a daze
If you looked upon them
And were mere mortal men
'Ozymandias mighty', it says
October 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I heard there were some trunkless legs
That stood in sand like stony pegs
But you don't know whose shattered visage it was
With wrinkled lip, commanding sneer
On pedestal, these words appear,
Now look upon the works of Ozymandias
Ozymandias, Ozymandias, Ozyma-a-a-ndias
That stood in sand like stony pegs
But you don't know whose shattered visage it was
With wrinkled lip, commanding sneer
On pedestal, these words appear,
Now look upon the works of Ozymandias
Ozymandias, Ozymandias, Ozyma-a-a-ndias
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
This ZOT! ad is almost a one-page Understanding Comics by @scottmccloud.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This ZOT! ad is almost a one-page Understanding Comics by @scottmccloud.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Today is #DigitalCitizenDay, a reminder that being digitally responsible starts with being digitally aware. Our Commissioner shares simple but powerful tips to help kids (and adults) protect their privacy online: youtu.be/cuBQe4spMuk
Digital Citizen Day 2025 | Privacy Tips for Kids
YouTube video by Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Today is #DigitalCitizenDay, a reminder that being digitally responsible starts with being digitally aware. Our Commissioner shares simple but powerful tips to help kids (and adults) protect their privacy online: youtu.be/cuBQe4spMuk
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
We are notifying the community of additional public exposure locations for measles.
Two new confirmed measles infections in Ottawa residents are linked to the previously reported ones.
Please read the full PSA, including detailed exposure locations, dates, and times at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...
Two new confirmed measles infections in Ottawa residents are linked to the previously reported ones.
Please read the full PSA, including detailed exposure locations, dates, and times at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...
October 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
We are notifying the community of additional public exposure locations for measles.
Two new confirmed measles infections in Ottawa residents are linked to the previously reported ones.
Please read the full PSA, including detailed exposure locations, dates, and times at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...
Two new confirmed measles infections in Ottawa residents are linked to the previously reported ones.
Please read the full PSA, including detailed exposure locations, dates, and times at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Happy #MediaLiteracyWeek! Check out this adorable House Hippo by ceramic artist Naomi Frohlich!
@mediasmarts.bsky.social
#MediaLiteracy #misinformation @kidscanpress.bsky.social
@owlkids.bsky.social
@jandolby.bsky.social #criticalthinking #DigitalLiteracy #NationalInternetDay
@mediasmarts.bsky.social
#MediaLiteracy #misinformation @kidscanpress.bsky.social
@owlkids.bsky.social
@jandolby.bsky.social #criticalthinking #DigitalLiteracy #NationalInternetDay
October 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Happy #MediaLiteracyWeek! Check out this adorable House Hippo by ceramic artist Naomi Frohlich!
@mediasmarts.bsky.social
#MediaLiteracy #misinformation @kidscanpress.bsky.social
@owlkids.bsky.social
@jandolby.bsky.social #criticalthinking #DigitalLiteracy #NationalInternetDay
@mediasmarts.bsky.social
#MediaLiteracy #misinformation @kidscanpress.bsky.social
@owlkids.bsky.social
@jandolby.bsky.social #criticalthinking #DigitalLiteracy #NationalInternetDay
I never saw myself as the kind of SF writer who moonlights as a futurist, but it's funny how my stories keep coming true... www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
I Tried the Robot That’s Coming to Live With You. It’s Still Part Human.
1X’s Neo wants to be your housekeeper. First, it needs to be controlled by a human in your home. Cool with you?
www.wsj.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I never saw myself as the kind of SF writer who moonlights as a futurist, but it's funny how my stories keep coming true... www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Do you open your phones to do one thing and get sucked in? Try the 'do-just-one-thing' challenge!
Learn more ways to improve your family's relationship with devices this #MediaLiteracyWeek. Get started with our brand new self-guided workshop, sponsored by Bell!
https://ow.ly/Pg5h50Xjj05
Learn more ways to improve your family's relationship with devices this #MediaLiteracyWeek. Get started with our brand new self-guided workshop, sponsored by Bell!
https://ow.ly/Pg5h50Xjj05
October 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Do you open your phones to do one thing and get sucked in? Try the 'do-just-one-thing' challenge!
Learn more ways to improve your family's relationship with devices this #MediaLiteracyWeek. Get started with our brand new self-guided workshop, sponsored by Bell!
https://ow.ly/Pg5h50Xjj05
Learn more ways to improve your family's relationship with devices this #MediaLiteracyWeek. Get started with our brand new self-guided workshop, sponsored by Bell!
https://ow.ly/Pg5h50Xjj05
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Today at 12pm EST! Join MediaSmarts and Canadian Sociological Association to learn about Canadians’ responses to online misinformation, the impact of the digital divide and evidence-based recommendations to address misinformation in Canada. Register now: https://ow.ly/ubIV50Xj3XN #MediaLiteracyWeek
October 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Today at 12pm EST! Join MediaSmarts and Canadian Sociological Association to learn about Canadians’ responses to online misinformation, the impact of the digital divide and evidence-based recommendations to address misinformation in Canada. Register now: https://ow.ly/ubIV50Xj3XN #MediaLiteracyWeek
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
One of the most important things you can do to raise media-savvy kids is to watch along with them and engage in the media they love.
For #MediaLiteracyWeek, learn about co-viewing with your kids: https://ow.ly/T3CR50XisZB
For #MediaLiteracyWeek, learn about co-viewing with your kids: https://ow.ly/T3CR50XisZB
October 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
One of the most important things you can do to raise media-savvy kids is to watch along with them and engage in the media they love.
For #MediaLiteracyWeek, learn about co-viewing with your kids: https://ow.ly/T3CR50XisZB
For #MediaLiteracyWeek, learn about co-viewing with your kids: https://ow.ly/T3CR50XisZB
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
I suppose it's been a while since I posted this, so....
SF fandom was not the first pop fandom. And SF fandom took their cues from Westerns fandom, which was women's thing.
SF fandom was not the first pop fandom. And SF fandom took their cues from Westerns fandom, which was women's thing.
The accepted wisdom is that Hugo Gernsback invented sf fandom in the Science Fiction League & in the pages of AMAZING STORIES, and that (per Wikipedia) “a wide variety of Western modern organized fannish subcultures originated with science fiction fandom.”
LIES! ALL LIES!
1/
LIES! ALL LIES!
1/
October 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I suppose it's been a while since I posted this, so....
SF fandom was not the first pop fandom. And SF fandom took their cues from Westerns fandom, which was women's thing.
SF fandom was not the first pop fandom. And SF fandom took their cues from Westerns fandom, which was women's thing.
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Fandom as we know it exists today because of female Star Trek fans. It’s just so frustrating to have women’s roles in sci-fi history denied, because it extends well beyond fandom and creates the perception that women haven’t contributed as much to society at large as men, which is violent erasure
October 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Fandom as we know it exists today because of female Star Trek fans. It’s just so frustrating to have women’s roles in sci-fi history denied, because it extends well beyond fandom and creates the perception that women haven’t contributed as much to society at large as men, which is violent erasure
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
I’m not a Trekkie but I’ve done enough basic research into the Star Trek fandom to know women basically invented it, and are why the show even continued to exist. This kind of writing is part of institutional sexism that denies women’s accomplishments and role in history and it infuriates me
October 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I’m not a Trekkie but I’ve done enough basic research into the Star Trek fandom to know women basically invented it, and are why the show even continued to exist. This kind of writing is part of institutional sexism that denies women’s accomplishments and role in history and it infuriates me
A BIG project I've been working on has just been launched - four free online textbooks covering every aspect of digital media literacy, from grades 1 to 9. They were designed to support the recently updated Ontario curriculum but can be accessed and used by anyone: mediasmarts.ca/ontario-digi...
October 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
A BIG project I've been working on has just been launched - four free online textbooks covering every aspect of digital media literacy, from grades 1 to 9. They were designed to support the recently updated Ontario curriculum but can be accessed and used by anyone: mediasmarts.ca/ontario-digi...