100 Queries: What do Dutch Children See on the Web?

Using a random sample of authentic queries, we have employed Google Search as a lens to get a representative view on what Dutch children see on the web. With manual expert knowledge, we have annotated in-depth information about individual result pages as well as about the underlying sources. Our data reveals strong correlations between the intents of sites that are relevant to Dutch children, and factors including the ‘About’ page quality and the number of ads. To facilitate further analysis, we make the raw data available along with our annotations. We also propose a generic methodology using a query sample in combination with a search engine to draw conclusions about content that is available and visible on the web for a specific audience. This method is applied to empirically approach questions such as: Does the web contain relevant content and sufficient coverage for a specific target group? Which are prominent sources for available information, and what is their quality? Who is behind a source, and is such information transparent? Questions for information retrieval practitioners follow: Is a generic web search engine beneficial for an audience, or should they directly navigate to the known credible sources for their needs? Should they use domain-specific or site-internal search engines, while broader web search engines are rather a distraction on the way to towards gaining information in the most effective way?