The Influence of Search Engines on Polarization in Our Society

Billions of searches are conducted online every day, yet little is known about how search engines influence the information provided by a search. The University of Twente has developed a program that automatically (and completely anonymously) performs searches on various search engines. You can support this research by installing the programme. 

What are we working on? 

The internet is full of information, and sharing opinions is very easy. People have access to vast amounts of data. But when you search for something online, how do search engines affect the results? Search engines may influence societal divisions. In this project, we aim to understand how the online world contributes to the creation of disagreements and digital inequality. We are investigating what actually happens on people's computers at home. People across the Netherlands can participate in helping collect this information.

What do we ask from you? 

To participate, install the programme (the browser extension) on your computer. Browsers are programmes used to visit websites, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Adding the browser extension to Chrome, Firefox, or Edge is quick and easy, with clear instructions provided. The programme will make one search per week automatically. It uses search terms chosen by the research team. This happens only when your computer is on and your browser is open. The search terms include both general terms (e.g., energy transition) and specific terms for current topics (e.g., nitrogen measures). Once the search is performed, the results are sent anonymously to the researcher, and the search window closes automatically. The programme will be turned off automatically in the summer of 2025. You can uninstall the programme at any time.

Who can participate AND WHEN? 

The research runs from November 2023 to March 2025. Anyone in the Netherlands who is 18 years or older can participate. All you need to do is install the programme (the browser extension) on your computer or laptop. Unfortunately, this cannot be done on a phone or tablet.

We hope as many different people as possible will join this project, allowing us to learn more about digital inequality and develop solutions to address it in the Netherlands.

Meet the researcher 

sign up

Thank you for wanting to participate in the research project 'Spot the Differences!' After signing up, you will immediately receive a confirmation email at the address you provided. Within 3 business days, you will receive more information about the project and a link to install the programme.

• Participation in scientific research is always voluntary. When you sign up for a study, you will always receive an automatic confirmation email. This email will inform you when to expect further communication from the researcher.
• The email will also include a link to the English-language questionnaire. The Dutch or German versions will be sent later.
• When starting the questionnaire, you will be asked for your consent to participate by filling out a 'Consent Form.' 
• An ethical committee has reviewed this research and given a positive recommendation. This means that the research is conducted with scientific rigor and in accordance with participant rights.
• Your contact details will only be used as you wish. We will only share your information with the researcher of the study you are participating in. If you have indicated that you want to stay updated on new studies, you will receive a message no more than once a month. If this changes, we will contact you first. Read here for detailed information on how we handle personal data.