Matthew Johnson
@matthewfjohnson.bsky.social
Director of Education for MediaSmarts, Canada's centre for digital media literacy. He/him. Open to correction.
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
In other words, traffic deaths are a policy choice
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
Helsinki just went a full year without a single traffic death
The capital city is Finnish’ed with car-related fatalities.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2025 at 5:44 AM
In other words, traffic deaths are a policy choice
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Um so that is very bad. For many reasons, but perhaps the most obvious end-game of this new development is if you people are just reading AI summaries of original content, but that kills how we fund original content... eventually you won't have original content for AI summaries to draw on.
12/
12/
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Um so that is very bad. For many reasons, but perhaps the most obvious end-game of this new development is if you people are just reading AI summaries of original content, but that kills how we fund original content... eventually you won't have original content for AI summaries to draw on.
12/
12/
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Do you all know about Uvagut TV? It's Canada's first Inuktut television channel. There's lots of great stuff on here. Check it out!
www.uvagut.tv
www.uvagut.tv
ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅᐳᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ TV | Authentic Inuit TV
Uvagut TV (meaning “Our” TV) is Canada’s first 24/7 Inuktut television channel. Uvagut TV broadcasts children’s shows, movies, documentaries, cultural and current affairs programming in Inuktut to com...
www.uvagut.tv
November 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Do you all know about Uvagut TV? It's Canada's first Inuktut television channel. There's lots of great stuff on here. Check it out!
www.uvagut.tv
www.uvagut.tv
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
In what ways can animals vary in their reproductive adaptations? This gallery walk radically broadens of the idea of reproductive adaptations as students learn sex-changing clownfish, "sperm-stealing" all-female salamander populations, and more. www.genderinclusivebiology.com/newsletter/d...
Diverse Reproductive Strategies Gallery Walk — Gender-Inclusive Biology
In this lesson, students do a reading about R- and K-selection and then a gallery walk of four more unique reproductive strategies in animals. Students use the notes taken during the gallery walk to…
www.genderinclusivebiology.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
In what ways can animals vary in their reproductive adaptations? This gallery walk radically broadens of the idea of reproductive adaptations as students learn sex-changing clownfish, "sperm-stealing" all-female salamander populations, and more. www.genderinclusivebiology.com/newsletter/d...
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
muppetized book covers: thread
November 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
muppetized book covers: thread
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
7/🧵 The loudest voices aren't the most representative. Every generation has extremists, but social media amplifies fringe movements beyond their size. A handful of young white nationalists create viral moments that crowd out broader trends. We mistake the exception for the rule.
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
7/🧵 The loudest voices aren't the most representative. Every generation has extremists, but social media amplifies fringe movements beyond their size. A handful of young white nationalists create viral moments that crowd out broader trends. We mistake the exception for the rule.
I know I say this a lot, but this is one of my favourite MediaSmarts lessons:
November 21 is World TV Day! Here’s a free lesson plan on media storytelling for your Grade 1-6 classroom: https://ow.ly/n4Uq50XrELo
November 14, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I know I say this a lot, but this is one of my favourite MediaSmarts lessons:
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
✨ New Research Spotlight ✨
How do celebrity bodies shape the way young Black and Hispanic women see themselves?
Our recent study in Feminist Media Studies dug into this question by analyzing how women ages 18–29 describe the celebrity bodies they admire. The findings were powerful:
How do celebrity bodies shape the way young Black and Hispanic women see themselves?
Our recent study in Feminist Media Studies dug into this question by analyzing how women ages 18–29 describe the celebrity bodies they admire. The findings were powerful:
November 14, 2025 at 6:50 PM
✨ New Research Spotlight ✨
How do celebrity bodies shape the way young Black and Hispanic women see themselves?
Our recent study in Feminist Media Studies dug into this question by analyzing how women ages 18–29 describe the celebrity bodies they admire. The findings were powerful:
How do celebrity bodies shape the way young Black and Hispanic women see themselves?
Our recent study in Feminist Media Studies dug into this question by analyzing how women ages 18–29 describe the celebrity bodies they admire. The findings were powerful:
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
Day 315: I swear to god, I've never seen or heard of a quoll before it went on this list. It just sounds like such a small rodent, doesn't it?
10/10 job naming this one, zoologists. You fuckin' did it.
10/10 job naming this one, zoologists. You fuckin' did it.
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Day 315: I swear to god, I've never seen or heard of a quoll before it went on this list. It just sounds like such a small rodent, doesn't it?
10/10 job naming this one, zoologists. You fuckin' did it.
10/10 job naming this one, zoologists. You fuckin' did it.
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
TV conspiracies: we’ve hacked their computers but they’ve perfectly cleaned up the evidence!
Real conspiracies:
To: conspirator
From: famous person
Attachment: evidence.png
Real conspiracies:
To: conspirator
From: famous person
Attachment: evidence.png
November 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
TV conspiracies: we’ve hacked their computers but they’ve perfectly cleaned up the evidence!
Real conspiracies:
To: conspirator
From: famous person
Attachment: evidence.png
Real conspiracies:
To: conspirator
From: famous person
Attachment: evidence.png
Reposted by Matthew Johnson
I wanted to do some little tip sheets on quick-sketching people from life. So here you go! First, an introduction to my outline-centric approach -- I'll get into technique points later. (1/3)
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I wanted to do some little tip sheets on quick-sketching people from life. So here you go! First, an introduction to my outline-centric approach -- I'll get into technique points later. (1/3)
Picts or it didn't happen
November 11, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Picts or it didn't happen
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