"You can see things in the Information Environment, but you cannot see it itself. You can be part of the Information Environment—you can experience the Information Environment—you can even follow it passively as millions do every day… or you can affect it. The “Information Environment” simply means, “all of the readily available information at a given time.” The U.S. Army defines the Information Environment as the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. Army Field Manual 3-13 is titled, “Information Operations.” It states: “Information is an element of combat power. Commanders conduct information operations to apply it. Focused information operations—synchronized with effective information management and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance—enable commanders to gain and maintain information superiority.” Information superiority is achieved when one side has total access to all of the available information and the opposition’s access to that information is restricted. This is accomplished through a variety of means—legal and illegal. Hacking or remotely controlling opposition communications devices is a well-known form of affecting the flow of information, but it is not within the scope of this book, nor is any illegal act. Social media is a remarkable barometer for perceiving the Information Environment. Though the lens is skewed, it is almost possible to see the Information Environment itself through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media applications. Livestreaming apps like Periscope, Facebook Live, and YouTube Live also further this vision. Numerous factors make up the Information Environment and influence it at any given time—including political, military, economic, social, infrastructure, the physical environment, and timeliness. Any outlet producing information content is part of the Information Environment, including your favorite TV or Netflix shows, documentaries, the Hollywood box office, music, newspapers, bloggers and, more recently, social media platforms and their corporate owners. In the American Revolutionary War, control of the Information Environment was one of the factors that brought independence to the British colonies in North America. The British Crown understood the power of control over information, and thereby instituted the Stamp Act. A provision of the tax required printed materials, such as newspapers, to be printed on stamped paper produced in London. As printers were unduly affected by this new law, many colonial newspapers were particularly critical of the act, leading to the heightened political tensions that later gave way to the Revolution itself. Pamphlets also played a major role in the American Revolution. The most famous of these was Common Sense, written in January, 1776, by Thomas Paine. The book is written in an accessible and highly persuasive tone and its sales took off almost immediately. It became a popular bestseller, selling hundreds of thousands of copies in its first few months of publication. It was a tremendous sensation. People were reading aloud from Common Sense in taverns and meeting places. In modern terms, Common Sense was the first viral sensation in American history. Common Sense’s impact was later seen by its important place in the political environment, where it framed and directed the debate of the American colonists who would declare independence just a few months later. It must be understood that Common Sense went viral because it fit so well into the Information Environment’s primary conversation at hand—the conflict with Great Britain—and because it was a simple summary of the situation. Paine’s book presented arguments for independence to a mass audience that was highly receptive due to the circumstances. Thomas Paine’s writing was a massive success because it influenced the Information Environment so much it that it generated a political response. Common Sense was not a financial success, unfortunately, because he was cheated by his publishers. I do not expect to be cheated by the publishers of this book, but I have learned from Thomas and I am keeping an eye on you!"