Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-178) and index.

Chapter 1: Are social networks valid sources for news? Overview: social media make news a social experience / Kristen Purcell et al. -- Yes: social networks are valid sources for news. Facebook helps people share credible information / Randi Zuckerberg, as told to Rory O'Connor -- Social media can make traditional news organizations more relevant / Michael Skoler -- Twitter helps reporters connect with the news / Steve Buttry -- No: social networks are not valid news sources. Social media cannot replace professional news organizations / Barb Palser -- Twitter is often inaccurate / Herman Manson -- Twitter connects only the young and hip / Edward Wasserman -- Chapter 2: What impact do social media have on politics? Chapter preface -- Facebook has a permanent role in politics / Vincent Harris -- The impact of social media on politics is fleeting / Julian E. Zelizer -- Complex political issues are trivialized by social media / Matt Bai -- Social networks enable quick collaboration around issues / Micah L. Sifry -- Social media can help citizens press for free and fair elections / Asch Harwood -- Social media can be used to spread hatred / Jelena Maksimovic -- Social media enable lawmakers to communicate with the public / Colleen J. Shogan -- Social media pose risks for politicians / Kiera Haley -- Chapter 3: Can social media facilitate political change? Chapter preface -- Yes: social media can facilitate political change. Social media empower people / Simon Mainwaring --The Tunisian revolt was the world's first Facebook revolution / Anshel Pfeffer -- No: Social media do not facilitate political change. Social media fail to incite true activism / Malcolm Gladwell -- The role of social media in Iran was exaggerated / Evgeny Morozov -- Social media did not cause the Egyptian revolution / Parvez Sharma -- Chapter 4: Should people have unrestricted access to social networks? Overview: Technology makes it harder for repressive governments to censor / William J. Dobson -- Yes: people should have unrestricted access to social networks. Internet freedom is an essential global freedom / Hillary Rodham Clinton -- Repressive governments should be pressured to have an open internet / Lucie Morillon and Jean-François Julliard -- Facebook should not censor radical posts / Greg Butterfield -- No: In some circumstances, access to social networks should be restricted. Censorship is appropriate in the context of different value systems / Derek Bambauer -- The US insistence on internet freedom does more harm than good / Clay Shirky -- Schools need to establish some limits to social media use / Kathryn S. Vander Broek, Steven M. Puiszis, and Evan D. Brown.