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. (Less)

中文翻译：

---

搜索和删除：青年，印象管理和在线搜索痕迹

目的：本文的目的是探索和分析年轻人如何将在线搜索痕迹概念化以及他们如何应对。设计/方法/方法：通过定性和人种学方法研究了该主题。在瑞典，有9名参与者对学校进行了访谈，交流和观察。调查结果：调查结果表明，与在线跟踪有关的参与者的主要策略是从其搜索日志中删除项目。搜索日志是概念化在线搜索踪迹的切实方法。参与者删除了与想象中的观众有关的项目，在当前材料中，这些观众主要由父母和老师组成。调查结果还表明，参与者对在线跟踪有所了解，但在理解数据流的方式和数据持久性方面存在困难。对于在线跟踪，他们的策略比主动更主动。独创性/价值：本研究有助于对在线搜索踪迹的理解进行新颖的探索。此外，从理论上讲，它是通过受众和印象管理的角度来研究主题的。（减）从理论上讲，它是通过受众和印象管理的角度来研究主题的。（减）从理论上讲，它是通过受众和印象管理的角度来研究主题的。（减）