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A field that studies search engines as social and political actors—how they shape access to information, produce and reinforce hierarchies of knowledge, and embed values in algorithms. It draws on sociology, information science, and critical algorithm studies to examine search engine optimization (SEO), autocomplete suggestions, ranking criteria, and the commercial interests that drive search. The social sciences of search engines reveal that search results are not neutral reflections of the web but carefully engineered constructions that prioritize certain sources, perspectives, and economic interests over others.
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