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Searching and deleting : youth, impression management and online traces of search

Andersson, Cecilia LU orcid (2020) In Aslib Journal of Information Management 72(1). p.34-48
Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse how young people conceptualise online traces of search and what strategies they have for dealing with them. Design/methodology/approach: The topic was investigated through a qualitative and ethnographic approach. Interviews, go-alongs and observations in schools were carried out with nine participants in Sweden. Findings: The findings show that the participants’ main strategy in relation to online traces was to remove items from their search logs. Search logs were a tangible way of conceptualising online traces of search. The participants removed items in relation to an imagined audience which, in the present material, primarily consisted of parents and teachers. The findings... (More)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse how young people conceptualise online traces of search and what strategies they have for dealing with them. Design/methodology/approach: The topic was investigated through a qualitative and ethnographic approach. Interviews, go-alongs and observations in schools were carried out with nine participants in Sweden. Findings: The findings show that the participants’ main strategy in relation to online traces was to remove items from their search logs. Search logs were a tangible way of conceptualising online traces of search. The participants removed items in relation to an imagined audience which, in the present material, primarily consisted of parents and teachers. The findings also showed that the participants had some awareness of online traces but had difficulties in understanding the way that data flow and the persistence of data. Their strategies were more reactive than proactive in relation to online traces. Originality/value: The present study contributes with a novel exploration of understandings of online traces of search. Further, it contribute theoretically by investigating the topic through the lens of audience and impression management.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ethnography, Goffman, Impression management, Online traces, Search engines, Youth
in
Aslib Journal of Information Management
volume
72
issue
1
pages
15 pages
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:85074895041
ISSN
2050-3806
DOI
10.1108/AJIM-05-2019-0129
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
61ab9e0e-9085-4974-881a-1f5d8c53de8e
date added to LUP
2019-12-03 12:50:39
date last changed
2024-05-30 07:31:20
@article{61ab9e0e-9085-4974-881a-1f5d8c53de8e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse how young people conceptualise online traces of search and what strategies they have for dealing with them. Design/methodology/approach: The topic was investigated through a qualitative and ethnographic approach. Interviews, go-alongs and observations in schools were carried out with nine participants in Sweden. Findings: The findings show that the participants’ main strategy in relation to online traces was to remove items from their search logs. Search logs were a tangible way of conceptualising online traces of search. The participants removed items in relation to an imagined audience which, in the present material, primarily consisted of parents and teachers. The findings also showed that the participants had some awareness of online traces but had difficulties in understanding the way that data flow and the persistence of data. Their strategies were more reactive than proactive in relation to online traces. Originality/value: The present study contributes with a novel exploration of understandings of online traces of search. Further, it contribute theoretically by investigating the topic through the lens of audience and impression management.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{2050-3806}},
  keywords     = {{Ethnography; Goffman; Impression management; Online traces; Search engines; Youth}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{34--48}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Aslib Journal of Information Management}},
  title        = {{Searching and deleting : youth, impression management and online traces of search}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-05-2019-0129}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/AJIM-05-2019-0129}},
  volume       = {{72}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}