I found the Brian Street article to be particularly captivating; especially, the portion about literacy as an ideological concept. In other words, literacy is inextricably linked to power and culture; thus, it is tied to societal changes. It is a social act and is situated in a social context, but does it create social changes or does it result from social changes? I think it is a little bit of both. For instance, as society evolved, trading expanded so writing systems were invented and literacy continued to expand/evolve with new technologies (i.e. pencils, printing press, typewriters, computers and now smartphones), which has created different types of literacy. All these new technologies have perpetuated oppression as well as liberation. For example, smartphones are expensive so systematically oppressed groups and populations that can not afford them do not have access to this new way of communicating that has become vital in our society. It can also work the other way, some use YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and other social media to promote ideas that are hateful, racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. in order to continue the oppression of underrepresented and marginalized groups. As new apps and technologies are invented and new forms of literacy are developed, will society change or adapt for the better?
I think so.
Social media has allowed people to express ideas that can reach a much larger audience than ever before; as well as giving a voice to groups that have been oppressed by society. A prime example of this would be the “#MeToo” movement. It is has caused an issue that has been prominent in our society to finally be talked about and has caused many companies and governments to take action.
Overall, I think literacy in social media supports Street’s notion that literacy is ideological as well as the idea that new technologies have allowed social movements to thrive which will hopefully make our society change to become more accepting and equal for all members of it.
