A remote and desolate location that is now within reach
In a world dominated by images, it’s important to understand the message or what an image may or may not depict. An example is someone not understanding an optical illusion in a photo.
While more and more people are comfortable with technology, there are still people who are IT illiterate.
This type of literacy is mostly present in people who have always lived in urban areas. It’s essentially about not understanding nature, how agriculture works, and its impact. E.g. “How does drought affect me if I live in the city and have access to food in supermarkets?”
This type of illiteracy is more present than ever in this day and age. It's the inability to understand and explain an argument or opinion, and particularly not being able to accept that someone else might have a different opinion (which can be equally valid).
This is when people don’t understand the impact their actions might have on the environment. I.e. the idea that one person recycling won’t have any impact on the planet.
This refers to both a lack of awareness as well as a misunderstanding of mental health issues. For example, believing a depressed person is just sad and telling them to smile so they can be happy.
This is about being unable to translate information from one source to another effectively. For instance, reading a script or an instruction manual and being able to make a video based on the information (assuming you have video skills!).
This type of illiteracy is also associated with people misinterpreting information and/or taking it at face value without taking into consideration the numerous factors that should be considered. E.g. “A vegan diet is better than a balanced diet.”
With the world developing at a fast pace and new technology making its way into our lives as a consequence, there is a need to adapt. Some people just are not able to keep up.
The inability to consider a scientific hypothesis can have an impact on how people interpret information. E.g. “An x amount of people have died after taking vaccines, therefore vaccines kill people.”
For instance, someone might understand the sentence “beware of the dog,” but lack the understanding that the message implies caution and danger.
This is an individual who can understand what the words say but fails to understand the meaning behind it.
An example of numerical illiteracy would be being unable to work out simple things, such as how much ¼ is of 100.
Of course, taking things at face value can have disastrous consequences. It goes without saying that factually illiterate people have been exploited throughout history, as they are easier targets to persuade.
This is about the inability to understand the impact that diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits have on one’s health.
A lack of critical thought is often related to factual illiteracy. This is when, for instance, someone accepts a piece of information as being a fact without even questioning it.
We get it: math can be hard. But numerical illiteracy is a bit more than that. It’s pretty much the inability to make sense of, and work with, numbers.
This often happens when people blindly believe something to be true, based on their perception of the source of information. E.g. "A trustworthy national newspaper wouldn’t ever publish fake news."
Some people are unable to understand their, another person's, or a group of people’s role in society. This can extend to how the law exists and how it works.
While this type of illiteracy is less and less common these days, there are still those who are unable to process written information.
Cultural illiteracy, however, can also be applied to other cultures. This can be reflected by not understanding that people have different customs and traditions in other parts of the world, and viewing the world from one’s point of origin only.
This is the type of illiteracy most of us are familiar with, which consists of the inability to read or write.
This doesn’t necessarily mean racism, but it often does. It’s essentially an inability to understand racial issues because one’s experience is not the same. This may lead to prejudice and detrimental beliefs in stereotypes.
The inability to manage money is unfortunately still very present today. Poor money management, which usually involves bad financial decisions and consequently, debt, is far from being eradicated from our society.
Being culturally illiterate refers to not knowing your culture, customs, etc. An example would be to be part of a Christian community and not know what Christmas is.
This refers to people who lack the capacity to understand their own emotions and of those around them.
Sources: (Listverse) (Scientific Editing)
See also: Are you emotionally intelligent? Here's how to tell
Figuring out percentages can be challenging, and those completely statistically illiterate might even struggle to imagine how much a certain percentage would look like. For example, someone may have a hard time figuring out what a 10% deposit of something that costs 100 is.
Illiteracy is best known as the inability to read and write, but it can also be about ignorance about a specific area or subject. Indeed, many of us are illiterate when it comes to certain matters; some of which we may be aware of, some of which we may not. As the saying goes: "Ignorance is bliss."
Browse through the following gallery and get to know the different types of illiteracy.
Do you know all the various forms of illiteracy?
It's not only about reading or writing
LIFESTYLE Education
Illiteracy is best known as the inability to read and write, but it can also be about ignorance about a specific area or subject. Indeed, many of us are illiterate when it comes to certain matters; some of which we may be aware of, some of which we may not. As the saying goes: "Ignorance is bliss."
Browse through the following gallery and get to know the different types of illiteracy.