---
title: "Co-Worker Searches"
description: "One-in-five online adults have used a search engine to find information about a co-worker, professional colleague, or business competitor."
date: "2008-05-28"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/05/28/co-worker-searches/"
---

# Co-Worker Searches

While less common than personal searches for family and friends, nearly one-in-five adult internet users (19%) say they have searched for information about co-workers, professional colleagues or business competitors with an online search engine. Male internet users are more likely to conduct this type of search (23% of online men, compared with 16% of online women). Looking across age groups, those ages 30 to 49 are the most likely to conduct work-related people searches; 25% report doing so compared with just 16% of users ages 50 to 64. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/663/digital-footprints)