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Digital Media and Society Series
Search Engine Society
Search engines have become a key part of our everyday lives. Yet there is growing concern with how algorithms, which run just beneath the surface of our interactions online, are affecting society. This timely new edition of Search Engine Society enlightens readers on the forms of bias that algorithms introduce into our knowledge and social spaces, drawing on recent changes to technology, industries, policies, and research. It provides an introduction to the social place of the search engine and addresses crucial questions such as:
How have search engines changed the way we organize our thoughts about the world, and how we work? To what extent do politics shape search, and does search shape politics? This book is a must-read for those who wish to understand the future of the social internet and how search shapes it.
How have search engines changed the way we organize our thoughts about the world, and how we work? To what extent do politics shape search, and does search shape politics? This book is a must-read for those who wish to understand the future of the social internet and how search shapes it.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 6, 2018
It was the best book I've ever written, it was the worst book I've ever written. Until the next one! Seriously, though, I've written stuff that I'm less than proud of, but I think this book actually gets at some neat stuff. I'm sorry it's not more widely read, but I am sure every author thinks that!
December 12, 2018
Timely and essential
Still timely, this book offers an essential set of knowledge and questions that help build search engine literacy skills essential for contemporary life.
Still timely, this book offers an essential set of knowledge and questions that help build search engine literacy skills essential for contemporary life.
February 27, 2014
“Some consider the greatest modern threat to be too much information, a glut data that obscures what is valuable.” (pg. 19)
I think this book is for anyone who wants to know more about search engines, how they work and there influence on our culture. The literature in this book was easy and simple to read. The author wrote the text so that most anyone who was knowledgeable about search engines and internet could grasp what he was saying. I found it to be interesting to read but at sometimes as what I liked to call a refresher for what I already knew. I believe his intentions were to raise awareness to everyone just not one particular group of people about the internet and search engines. Although I think that, most people who should read this book are those who use the internet routinely or knowledgeable about search engines for them to understand what Halavais is talking about.
The book contains valuable information about search engines and how they have become part of our society. It points out the transformation from people using people for information to people relying on technology for information. The author not only gives you vital background data about the World Wide Web for those who may not be very knowledgeable about it. He then raises questions such as; How has search engines affected our culture? Does it shape us individuals? What political influence is there if any? These are only a few of those questions but they are some of the most important discussed by Halavais. In order for one to answer these questions, Halavis covers eight chapters that I found to be short but stayed on track to what was being talked about. This book will be a revelation for many who were not aware of how search engines received their results and how they are able to get people’s attention. He goes on to let readers know that the virtual world is not only a place to do business but it plays a major role in the political world as well. One of the things I liked about the book is that Halavais points out that even though search engines are easy tools for people to use for the abundant supply of information does not mean that it is perfect. There are flaws to the system and people should be aware of what is not visible. “Some consider the greatest modern threat to be too much information, a glut data that obscures what is valuable.” (pg. 19)
Search Engines Society canvases topics that are concerns to some and unknown to others. It only is 240 pages so it is not very long but it does give you an idea on what is going on the web. One of the things I like about the author is that he was not too technical. He was able to get my attention by using text that was suitable for people that just wanted to get to the point. The two words I would use for this book is: Short and Simple.
Even though some who read this book might think what is being discussed has been done already I think, it is a basic manual, which has everything you need without having to read boring statistics or even using a search engine to get information on search engines. The book has everything you need to know about search engines and how it has influenced people lives.
I think this book is for anyone who wants to know more about search engines, how they work and there influence on our culture. The literature in this book was easy and simple to read. The author wrote the text so that most anyone who was knowledgeable about search engines and internet could grasp what he was saying. I found it to be interesting to read but at sometimes as what I liked to call a refresher for what I already knew. I believe his intentions were to raise awareness to everyone just not one particular group of people about the internet and search engines. Although I think that, most people who should read this book are those who use the internet routinely or knowledgeable about search engines for them to understand what Halavais is talking about.
The book contains valuable information about search engines and how they have become part of our society. It points out the transformation from people using people for information to people relying on technology for information. The author not only gives you vital background data about the World Wide Web for those who may not be very knowledgeable about it. He then raises questions such as; How has search engines affected our culture? Does it shape us individuals? What political influence is there if any? These are only a few of those questions but they are some of the most important discussed by Halavais. In order for one to answer these questions, Halavis covers eight chapters that I found to be short but stayed on track to what was being talked about. This book will be a revelation for many who were not aware of how search engines received their results and how they are able to get people’s attention. He goes on to let readers know that the virtual world is not only a place to do business but it plays a major role in the political world as well. One of the things I liked about the book is that Halavais points out that even though search engines are easy tools for people to use for the abundant supply of information does not mean that it is perfect. There are flaws to the system and people should be aware of what is not visible. “Some consider the greatest modern threat to be too much information, a glut data that obscures what is valuable.” (pg. 19)
Search Engines Society canvases topics that are concerns to some and unknown to others. It only is 240 pages so it is not very long but it does give you an idea on what is going on the web. One of the things I like about the author is that he was not too technical. He was able to get my attention by using text that was suitable for people that just wanted to get to the point. The two words I would use for this book is: Short and Simple.
Even though some who read this book might think what is being discussed has been done already I think, it is a basic manual, which has everything you need without having to read boring statistics or even using a search engine to get information on search engines. The book has everything you need to know about search engines and how it has influenced people lives.
October 20, 2012
This book is laid out fantastically and has exceptional pacing. It does not go overboard on the academic talk, but still provides a very useful set of citations. The reasons I can't give it 5 stars:
1) There's a little bit too much variance in how sophisticated it treats the reader. Sometimes it's quite technical, and sometimes it dumbs down the technology a bit much.
2) It argues that Google Books will be a negative influence on what books are popular, but I have no idea how this is different than previous canon-makers.
3) At one point it says that Wikipedia is not the "natural" best first choice in search results but frequently appears first. I'm not sure on what basis they made this statement.
These three flaws are small/picky, if you're into this field I recommend checking it out.
1) There's a little bit too much variance in how sophisticated it treats the reader. Sometimes it's quite technical, and sometimes it dumbs down the technology a bit much.
2) It argues that Google Books will be a negative influence on what books are popular, but I have no idea how this is different than previous canon-makers.
3) At one point it says that Wikipedia is not the "natural" best first choice in search results but frequently appears first. I'm not sure on what basis they made this statement.
These three flaws are small/picky, if you're into this field I recommend checking it out.
January 23, 2016
Great book for anyone interested in understanding the societal consequences of the search engine on a social and political level. Especially chapter 4, 5 and 6 about knowledge, censorship, privacy is really interesting. Another good thing about the book is that it not only refers to lots of relevant research but also movies and literature. The only negative thing about the book is that it is slightly outdated. Since 2009, lots of things has happened with the internet and Google. Despite this it is definitely worth reading!
May 26, 2016
My head responded to a world of searching nine years earlier with concepts of history, origin, and myth: and where we've come from where we've been.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews