This work explores how social media, now the dominant means of communication in this country, has changed individual access to information and who controls distribution of that information, which significantly influences our opinions. It also considers Americans' opinions about the media itself i.e., freedom of speech and of the press, trustworthiness of social media, propaganda, cyberbullying, and if regulations are needed. As a resource for exploring the influences on American values, it provides an essential and an accessible commentary on the ways in which advances in communication technologies and practices have shaped American opinion and history. Each chapter includes an introduction and conclusion, a bulleted list of topics covered, a reprint of a particularly significant primary or secondary source document with detailed analysis and commentary, images and photographs, and discussion questions. Includes a Timeline, Glossary, Historical Snapshot, Bibliography, and Index.