Unite or divide? Biased search queries and Google Search results in polarized politics

Research on search engine algorithmic curation has primarily focused on source diversity in response to general search terms, often overlooking the role of biased user input and its interaction with algorithmic filtering. Given that online users frequently engage in motivated information-seeking, it is crucial to examine how query variation influences search results and potentially reinforces information inequalities. This study employs a user-centered auditing approach through three real-world instances, where self-identified political partisans in the United States conducted Google searches using ideologically slanted queries related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, abortion, and climate change. Analyzing search results across three topics and timepoints, the study finds that query slant—rather than user ideology—was the primary driver of search result differences. While personalization was observed, search results also exhibited a mainstreaming effect, often surfacing authoritative sources that may counteract polarization. However, slanted queries still led to distinct sets of information, raising concerns about algorithmic amplification of biased search behaviors. These findings contribute to the literature on algorithmic curation and information diversity, highlighting the need for ongoing audits of search engines to assess their role in shaping online political discourse and mitigating information inequalities in an era of heightened polarization.