There is a joke that 1984 isn’t an instruction manual. What does the joke mean? Why is it relevant?

Like any good joke, it is both funny and holds some truth, and it serves as an example of wry humor. The novel 1984 has come to represent the model of an oppressive regime. In it Orwell meticulously details the methods used by the Party to control the populace, including surveillance, language control, scapegoating, the destruction of the family, torture, and murder. Totalitarian governments use these methods in the 21st century (as do other forms of government), as if 1984 showed them how. The joke is relevant because of concerns about personal privacy and surveillance. 1984 began an ongoing debate about the line between safety and privacy. The image of Big Brother on the telescreen tracking an individual’s movements parallels smartphone features that track users’ movements and cameras in classrooms and public spaces. Even democratic governments struggle to strike a balance that preserves personal freedom and public safety.