Search has assumed a position of central importance in the way that people access and use online information and services. In this introduction we summarize the four articles constituting this themed section, and in so doing explore the ascendancy of search, the power it bestows upon those who control it, its role in shaping access to information, and its capacity to function as a mirror for society. We point to important outstanding questions and suggest some avenues for future work in this area.
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