The Donaldson Adoption Institute | Untangling the Web II
For-profit search site Confidential intermediary Birth record request Free search site (e.g. Angels) State/National registry Social media Public records Search engines 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
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Those who searched were not always successful. Twenty-four percent of those who reported on the success of their online search (n = 233) were not able to find any members of their birth families. Sixty-three percent, however, either located birth family members (24%) or located and established contact (38%).!
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Adopted Individuals’ Views of Challenges in Using the Internet to Search Adopted adults were asked to identify their biggest challenges in using the Internet or social media to search, as well as the most helpful aspects of doing so. Of the 222 who answered this question, several said they had no challenges and provided evidence of the Internet’s helpfulness or made comments not directly relevant to the question. !
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For those who did report challenges, the one most commonly cited was lack of birth parent names or other basic information (44%). Respondents reported frustration with the lack of access to their original birth certificates or the limitations resulting from private placements. Others said the search was complicated by the fact that even non-identifying information was sometimes difficult to obtain or was incorrect. Clearly this was not a challenge caused by the Internet, but a reason that the power of the Internet could not be brought to bear to find family members.!
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“We need our names! Most searching adoptees are blocked from the most important document – our original birth certificates”.!
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