The Donaldson Adoption Institute | Untangling the Web II
nevertheless benefitted from the Internet’s capacity to connect them with fellow adoptees and supportive groups.!
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The most commonly cited benefit, noted by 32 percent, related to ease, efficiency, immediacy and reach. Respondents found the Internet greatly speeded up their efforts, saving them hours, weeks and even years of looking. The availability of public records online made the process much easier for many, as did the ability to find resources that would help them in their searches and experts who could assist them. Many noted that the Internet is far-reaching and that they could go in several different directions almost simultaneously in their searches. !
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“It’s right there at your fingertips any time of the day. You can easily ask for help from many online sources to help with your search.”!
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“When Googling a word or even a surname, Google brings up related articles. An example was when looking for a birth parent with a specific surname and Google brought up a group of Canadian soldiers with that ethnic background which included that surname, including the very identifying information I was looking for.”!
The ease, speed and reach of the Internet allowed adopted people to take action on their own behalves, at their own pace. As one respondent put it:!
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“[The Internet’s benefit was] the self-empowerment I felt being able to collect my own information and build off of using my own skill set, rather that feeling helpless when assigned to a retired social worker with no knowledge of Facebook or of how to refine a search.”!
Many noted that these sites and search engines were crucial to their ability to search and that, without the Internet or social media, it was unlikely that their searches would have been successful.!
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Another important benefit, cited by 12 percent of respondents, was online community. For those who searched successfully and for those who did not, the Internet provided a place to learn more and be supported in search, a place to ask questions and to explore why search matters. Among their comments:!
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“Participating in an online forum for adult adoptees helped validate and support me, and offer suggestions on how I might proceed.”!
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“Connecting with on-line groups of adoptees and birth parents from the state where I was born [was beneficial]. I learned immensely from this group, and having contact with people who had similar experiences to me was invaluable RE: coming to grips with my situation.”!
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