Those most vulnerable to misinformation often engage with fast, emotional, and visual formats like memes and short-form videos. Traditional media literacy efforts, focused on long-form content and academic discourse, rarely reach these audiences—while bad actors skillfully exploit these same formats to spread false narratives.
Memetic Literacy Lab (MLL) promotes media literacy by producing and distributing viral memes and videos in the same formats and spaces where misinformation thrives. It equips audiences with tools to build mental resilience, inoculating them against misinformation and manipulation.
With AI-generated misinformation on the rise and social media platforms continuing to prioritize engagement over truth, information literacy must be as viral as the misinformation it combats. MLL fills a massive gap in digital education by meeting people where they are and speaking their language.
Learn more about our programs:
Research & Strategy Lab, Creative Studio, and Media Hub.
At Memetic Literacy Lab (MLL), we believe that media literacy must evolve alongside the way people consume information. In an era where memes, short-form videos, and algorithmically curated content shape public perception, critical thinking must be as engaging and viral as the misinformation it combats. MLL empowers internet users to navigate the digital landscape with discernment, equipping them with the tools to recognize manipulation, question narratives, and overcome their own biases.
Rather than relying on traditional fact-checking approaches that can feel distant or partisan, MLL leverages the same cultural language and distribution tactics that make misinformation so pervasive. Through memes, interactive challenges, and viral videos, we make media literacy accessible, entertaining, and shareable. By meeting people where they already engage with content, we help audiences build resilience against digital manipulation—without gatekeeping or telling them what to think.
Our approach is participatory and decentralized, encouraging users to become active participants in media literacy rather than passive consumers of corrections. Through community-driven content, collaborations with digital creators, and platform-native storytelling, we foster an online culture where people don’t just consume information—they interrogate it. By making critical thinking contagious, MLL ensures that the next generation of internet users can navigate the ever-changing media landscape with curiosity, skepticism, and confidence.
Memetic Literacy Lab envisions a future where digital citizens are empowered to think critically about the media they consume. In an era where information spreads at the speed of a scroll, we strive to make media literacy as engaging, accessible, and viral as the misinformation it combats. By integrating education with internet culture, we aim to cultivate a generation of discerning, self-aware individuals who can navigate the digital landscape with confidence and curiosity.
Rather than relying on top-down institutions to correct misinformation, we see a world where people instinctively question sources, recognize manipulative tactics, and understand the biases that shape their own perceptions. Our vision is to shift digital culture toward participatory skepticism—where critical thinking is not just a skill, but a social norm embedded in how people engage with content online.
Through innovative storytelling, creative collaborations, and scalable digital literacy campaigns, Memetic Literacy Lab aspires to create a movement, not just a media project—one that reshapes how people interact with information, making truth-seeking a shared, viral experience.
MLL comprises a diverse group of professionals and researchers dedicated to exploring the dynamics of memetic communication. The team’s interdisciplinary approach combines insights from fields such as media studies, psychology, sociology, and information technology to analyze and address the challenges posed by the rapid spread of information in the digital age.
Executive Director
Oshan Anand’s journey in online activism began in political IRC channels when he was a teenager, and continued through his deep interest in digital ecosystems and misinformation. He played an important role in tracking online disinformation campaigns during the pandemic, founding Qult Following, the largest anti-QAnon Facebook group.
Beyond activism, Oshan ran a weekly futurism think tank from 2017-2019, exploring emerging technologies, societal shifts, and the future of digital culture. A lifelong student of politics, history, and global culture, Oshan brings a nuanced understanding of media narratives, propaganda, and information warfare to MLL’s mission.
Oshan has been a graphic designer for 30 years, and regularly makes memes and short-form videos.
Lead UX Designer
Aaron Stevens is a seasoned designer and researcher based in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in behavioral design and complex enterprise systems.
With nearly a decade of experience, he currently serves as a Senior Product Designer at Square, where he focuses on empowering sellers through intuitive design solutions. Prior to this, Aaron held roles such as Lead Product Designer at Carta and Senior Product Designer at OpenGov, where he designed products to enhance public sector services. His expertise spans the entire product development process, from project planning and research to detailed design execution.
Aaron is passionate about applying design and technology to traditionally underserved sectors, aiming to solve real problems for real people. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys biking around the Bay Area, reading, and engaging with various non-profits.
Have a question? Want to collaborate?
Feel free to reach out to us for any reason!
Memetic Literacy Lab is a think tank, design studio, and media hub that creates and distributes viral content to promote information literacy, critical thinking, and digital citizenship.