diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/mobs.dm b/code/__DEFINES/mobs.dm
index 7ca8dd2125f..75a033b684a 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/mobs.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/mobs.dm
@@ -725,3 +725,8 @@
 
 /// Possible value of [/atom/movable/buckle_lying]. If set to a different (positive-or-zero) value than this, the buckling thing will force a lying angle on the buckled.
 #define NO_BUCKLE_LYING -1
+
+/// Checking flags for [/mob/proc/can_read()]
+#define READING_CHECK_LITERACY (1<<0)
+#define READING_CHECK_LIGHT (1<<1)
+
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/_machinery.dm b/code/game/machinery/_machinery.dm
index 11da05bd40e..b64d3455b1a 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/_machinery.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/_machinery.dm
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@
 		return FALSE
 
 	// machines have their own lit up display screens and LED buttons so we don't need to check for light
-	if((interaction_flags_machine & INTERACT_MACHINE_REQUIRES_LITERACY) && !user.can_read(src, check_for_light = FALSE))
+	if((interaction_flags_machine & INTERACT_MACHINE_REQUIRES_LITERACY) && !user.can_read(src, READING_CHECK_LITERACY))
 		return FALSE
 
 	if(panel_open && !(interaction_flags_machine & INTERACT_MACHINE_OPEN))
diff --git a/code/modules/antagonists/traitor/components/demoraliser.dm b/code/modules/antagonists/traitor/components/demoraliser.dm
index 6f505a2ab1f..b6c02dc252f 100644
--- a/code/modules/antagonists/traitor/components/demoraliser.dm
+++ b/code/modules/antagonists/traitor/components/demoraliser.dm
@@ -44,8 +44,13 @@
 	// If you're not conscious you're too busy or dead to look at propaganda
 	if (viewer.stat != CONSCIOUS)
 		return
+	if(viewer.is_blind())
+		return
 	if (!should_demoralise(viewer))
 		return
+	if(!viewer.can_read(host, moods.reading_requirements, TRUE)) //if it's a text based demoralization datum, make sure the mob has the capability to read. if it's only an image, make sure it's just bright enough for them to see it.
+		return
+
 
 	if (is_special_character(viewer))
 		to_chat(viewer, span_notice("[moods.antag_notification]"))
@@ -86,6 +91,8 @@
 	var/datum/mood_event/crew_mood
 	/// Text to display to a head of staff upon receiving this mood
 	var/authority_notification
+	/// For literacy checks
+	var/reading_requirements = READING_CHECK_LIGHT
 	/// Mood datum to apply to a head of staff or security
 	var/datum/mood_event/authority_mood
 
@@ -97,6 +104,7 @@
 	crew_mood = /datum/mood_event/traitor_poster_crew
 	authority_notification = "Hey! Who put up that poster?"
 	authority_mood = /datum/mood_event/traitor_poster_auth
+	reading_requirements = (READING_CHECK_LITERACY | READING_CHECK_LIGHT)
 
 /datum/mood_event/traitor_poster_antag
 	description = "I am doing the right thing."
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm b/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm
index e7af260a595..7b6a13a8f9c 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ This is the proc mobs get to turn into a ghost. Forked from ghostize due to comp
 /mob/dead/observer/is_literate()
 	return TRUE
 
-/mob/dead/observer/can_read(obj/O, check_for_light = FALSE)
+/mob/dead/observer/can_read(atom/viewed_atom, reading_check_flags, silent)
 	return TRUE // we want to bypass all the checks
 
 /mob/dead/observer/vv_edit_var(var_name, var_value)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
index 109b385adb9..16b24e2ce8a 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
@@ -1187,14 +1187,17 @@
 	var/turf/mob_location = get_turf(src)
 	return mob_location.get_lumcount() > light_amount
 
+
 /// Can this mob read
-/mob/proc/can_read(obj/O, check_for_light = TRUE)
-	if(!is_literate())
-		to_chat(src, span_warning("You try to read [O], but can't comprehend any of it."))
+/mob/proc/can_read(atom/viewed_atom, reading_check_flags = (READING_CHECK_LITERACY|READING_CHECK_LIGHT), silent = FALSE)
+	if((reading_check_flags & READING_CHECK_LITERACY) && !is_literate())
+		if(!silent)
+			to_chat(src, span_warning("You try to read [viewed_atom], but can't comprehend any of it."))
 		return FALSE
 
-	if(check_for_light && !has_light_nearby() && !has_nightvision())
-		to_chat(src, span_warning("It's too dark in here to read!"))
+	if((reading_check_flags & READING_CHECK_LIGHT) && !has_light_nearby() && !has_nightvision())
+		if(!silent)
+			to_chat(src, span_warning("It's too dark in here to read!"))
 		return FALSE
 
 	return TRUE
diff --git a/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm b/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm
index 1e31e441662..dc06395e2a3 100644
--- a/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm
+++ b/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 			ui.close()
 		return
 
-	if(!user.can_read(src, check_for_light = FALSE))
+	if(!user.can_read(src, READING_CHECK_LITERACY))
 		return
 
 	if(HAS_TRAIT(user, TRAIT_CHUNKYFINGERS) && !allow_chunky)