Chapter II

Review of Related Literature and Studies

Format: Local to foreign + similar cases

This chapter presents the related literature, conceptual and theoretical framework to

strengthen the concept under study.

Web searching has its hidden darkness that could be problematic as the answers and

information found on some websites might just be fragments of truth or biased. Usually, the

users tend to believe that the information presented are reliable (Perker, 2020). This brings some

of the problems in web search that are ethical concerns such as problem of algorithm (search

engine bias, the problem of opacity/non-transparency), personal privacy and informed consent,

monitoring and surveillance, and censorship and democracy (Pastriova, 2022).

Web Searching (what is web searching?)

Web search engines (what are some examples of web search engines, what is the most

famous one? What is this web search engines for? Why do we use the web search engine?)

Legitimacy of information (Gia: Local + Foreign + case of illegitimate information in web

searching)

The legitimacy of data is not simply about the data’s quality or its purported accuracy.

Data’s legitimacy comes from a belief that people can collectively believe that the data is sound,

valid, and fit for use (Boyd, 2022). Thus, the way people engage with information sources has a

direct influence on its credibility.

Cyber security threats (Gia: Local + Foreign + case of cyber security threats)
 Assumptions on the Google searcher is critical for the platform to thrive as they depend

on users’ predictability. Google not only predicts the direction our eyes and index tend to go in

order to know where to place relevant information, but its revenues depend on assumptions

based on our habits which is the main mechanism behind ads. Nevertheless, if the person don’t

pay for it, then they become the product (Perker, 2020).

The searchers’ engagement provides the necessary information to base the assumptions.

Accordingly, “Her Story includes a search history section where it reveals how the interaction is

tracked. As the player tries to figure out “her story,” the platform gains more information about

them. Not being the search object gives the impression of an incognito experience, whereas the

searcher provides the key data for Google. In Ex Machina (dir. Alex Garland, 2014), the scientist

that develops self-conscious AI says that the search engines learn about how people think, which

is more important than what they think. Predictability is at the core of the human mind. Plato’s

understanding of human memory claims that it exists “to recover the likeness of what one

already knows of the world of appearance through experience” (Branigan, 2014). Similarly, a

data analyst from YouTube explains how they experimented with bringing random content to the

users, but it wasn’t successful as people were not choosing to click on the videos that do not

reflect their already established perspective or idea set (Computerphile, 2014). Therefore, the

human mind is inclined to be attracted to what complies with the already existing knowledge

attained within Google’s corporate agenda. While it is getting more difficult to discern between

trustworthy and inauthentic information, it is significant to know that the sources of information

are manipulative and biased despite the impression that we summon all truth with a click. In

reality, the users are manipulated constantly (Perker, 2020).

Search engine bias

 Search engine bias happens when a search engine is created to meet the needs of users

and especially “the creators”. The search engine satisfies the requirements of both use and

creator in a way of finding if both interest pairs. Every business websites strives to boost their

online visibility. These are companies which are usually bigger, and more reputable and has

better chance of a higher ranking. Whether it’s because they have a wider market outreach, a

higher brand authority, a large number of products, or something else entirely, these types of

companies often outdo smaller companies. This often consequence to the more credible, valid

and informative content being hardly seen (Sapardic, 2021).

According to Google itself, its ranking systems work by looking into many different

factors – from the way you worded your query and the relevance of pages all the way to your

location and specific search settings. In that regard, Google bias is greatly defined by the

particular needs of users. That being said, Google also calculates its results according to

something called domain authority. This is a ranking factor that measures a website’s relevance

and expertise by taking different aspects into account, like the number of quality inbound links it

has, for example. It’s more likely than not that big companies that constantly produce fresh

content and keep collecting inbound links will also easily increase domain authority of their site.

In turn, this gives them a higher position in search engine results page, which can automatically

decrease the DA score of a smaller site that operates in the same niche and has fewer quality

backlinks. As a result, this can also negatively impact the visibility of a smaller website in search

engine results.

Personal privacy

The user’s personal privacy might leak in Google search. As Levin (2022) mentioned,

Google has access to a user’s extensive database. It uses the data to improve it's algorithms and
user experience. In improving the user’s experience, it uses ads according to the interests and

search history (entertainment, games etc.). This eventually leads a user to naturally find

advertisements related to the past searches in other sites such as Youtube and Facebook. These

advertisements triggers user’s curiosity and attention and drives them from a series of emotions to

endless actions, unbeknownst to them. Additionally, Google knows more about the user than the

user knows about themselves. This includes, their current location, topics they search about,

websites they visit etc. Depending on their activity, it might also know about things they

purchased, books read and places visited (Levin, 2022). This might be used to prolong the

engagement of users.

Emotional Issues in Web Searching

According to Wellness (2019), there are 7 most common emotional Issues. These are

repression or emotional blocking, emotional denial, lack of emotional control, emotional

depersonalization, conflictive emotions, emotional dependency, and searching for pleasure. First,

repression is a reaction when a person is aware of the emotion but does not know how to express it

or when they do not want to express it. This leads to bearing the emotions inside until it leaks out

as a fit of rage. On the other hand, emotional blocking is when a person does not understand their

emotion. Second, emotional denial happens when a person denies their emotion and pretends it

does not exist. Moreover, lack of emotional control is when a person constantly make bad

decisions due to emotional impulses. Emotional depersonalization happens when a person stops

connecting emotionally to another person or others. On the other hand, conflictive emotions is

when a person experiences a mix of emotions. Emotional dependency is when a person has a hard

time of letting go of the past. This can be due to an unsolved trauma or from not properly

processed emotion. Lastly, searching for pleasure happens when a person who experienced
unpleasant emotions searches for pleasant emotions. Above all these mentioned examples of

negative emotions, the following related studies will state some of the most important cases that

the researchers had stumbled upon.

Even before a person searched for an information,, they are most likely be under the hype

of emotions. Thus, the reason for using Google may be to address this emotional status. This is

further explained by Think with Google (2022) which stated the top most searched in Google.

Uncertainty and apprehension over the war in Ukraine, personal finances and health are

accumulated in Google search. Moreover, the search interest for “help Ukraine” spiked in

Nigeria (Sinclair; Bandyopadhyay, 2022). Furthermore, people look for the things they love, the

things they fear, and the things they’ve lost. For example, the Rugby World Cup, Revoke Article

50 Petition, Game of Thrones and Prince Andrew. While the words themselves are just

characters on a screen, as search terms they reflect the joy, anger, fear, and enthusiasm people

were feeling at the time they clicked send (Dewof, 2020). From this, all of the emotions are

what drives contents to be seen. Dewolf shares how feelings affect search by fine tuning content

to match subliminal intent. “Emotion drives sales”, it can also define how people search the

internet. Emotion is powerful. Humans tend to feel first and think last. The brain is hard-wired to

emote above all, processing emotional information in one tenth the time it takes to process words

and speech.

People may also use Google for diagnosing their health condition. Hyman (2020) states

the risks of consulting Dr. Google. He explains, relying on Google for medical information has

negative side effects, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, searching for information

based on symptoms can worsen the searcher’s emotional state and increase health anxiety.

Jungmann and colleagues (2020) recently reported about this in their experimental investigation
of the side effects of running a Google search. As a result, Googling made people feel worse. In

this example, a searcher searched in Google a set of health symptoms such as shortness of breath,

fever, and cough, which top result in Google will most likely relate to COVID-19. This leads to

the participant feeling anxious about their health. Additionally, another side effect for Googling

medical information has to do with misinformation. If a searcher Google COVID-19, they will

find conspiracy theories about the start of the virus or suggestions for cures that may do more

harm than good. For example, a Washington Post article clarifying problems with suggestions

that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine might be cures suggests to use these drugs which

hasn’t been supported by reliable medical research. A searcher will also find suggestions about

drinking bleach (Hyman, 2020) .

Emotional experiences during web surfing

Conceptual Framework

Based from the review of literature, the researcher conceptualized web searching

and emotional experiences and the risks of lack of awareness. Additionally, similar cases of risks

and problems from local to foreign locations were stated to further prove the claims and

strengthen the study. The concepts are computer-based, which aims to describe web searching

and emotional experiences of the senior high school students.

Theoretical Framework
 As stated by Barlow (2015), how a user interacts with information sources is

controlled regardless of how autonomous they feel or how it affects their perspective of them. It

comes to the conclusion that interactions with such platforms affect users' ideas and their

perspective of the world. As a result, understanding its mechanics is critical.

In line with the study of Levin (2022), the way we engage with information sources is

altered regardless of how autonomous we feel and how it influences our view of them. It

concludes that our interactions with such platforms modify our thoughts and our perspective of

the world; thus, understanding its mechanics is important.

Based on the study of Dewolf (2020), emotion has great power. People are prone to

thinking last and feeling first. Above all, the brain is hardwired to emote, processing emotional

data in a fraction of the time it takes to process spoken and vocal data.

Conforming with Arrifudin et al. (2018), problematic internet use behavior is essentially

a manifestation of students' failure to choose appropriate and right behavior choices. Align with

Capuzzi and Stauffer (2016), an individual's conduct is a choice of the outcomes of thinking,

doing, and feeling. Students' failure to make good decisions is influenced by their lack of

problem-solving skills.

According to Norén (2017), searching for solutions to problems on web search engine is

also not evil. Google is preventing suicide and curing a lonely generation. It helps sad people

recognize that they are depressed and heal. That level of awareness would be impossible to

achieve without the internet. Some people come across important articles and report that they

feel better after reading them. If it cures you, go ahead and do it. You don't have to pay attention

to me.
 As reported by Coelho (2019), in order to grasp these frequent emotional challenges, you

must first understand where they are coming from. Knowing and admitting their reason is the

first step toward recovery, and it will assist you in working on it. Emotions can influence how

you think and feel. When you have emotional problems, the symptoms can be severe and

sometimes will not go away on their own. These problems could be related to other disorders.

Research Paradigm

INPUT

Figure 1. Independent variables, and dependent variables of web searching and emotional

experiences of senior high school students

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES DEPENDENT VARIABLES
Figure 1Web
shows the web searching as the independent variables and emotional
searching Emotional experiences
experiences as the dependent variable. The infographic will be the output.

Infographic