Google Safe Search is a feature that filters out explicit content from the search results, such as pornography, violence, or profanity. It is designed to provide a safer online environment for children and families. But how effective is it really? And what are the limitations and risks of relying on it?
In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of Google Safe Search and offer some tips and alternatives for parents who want to protect their kids from harmful online content.
Pros of Google Safe Search
It is easy to use and free
You can turn it on by clicking on the Settings icon at the bottom right corner of the Google homepage and selecting “Turn on SafeSearch”. You can also lock it with your Google account password so that your kids cannot turn it off without your permission.
It works across different devices and browsers
As long as you are signed in to your Google account, your Safe Search settings will apply to any device or browser you use to access Google.
It blocks most of the explicit content from the search results
According to Google, Safe Search can filter out about 90% of the adult content that you would otherwise see in your search results. This includes images, videos, websites, and ads that contain nudity, sexual activity, violence, or profanity.
Cons of Google Safe Search
It is not 100% accurate or reliable
Safe Search relies on algorithms and human reviewers to identify and filter out explicit content, but it is not perfect. Sometimes, it may miss some inappropriate content that slips through the cracks, or block some harmless content that is mistakenly flagged as explicit. For example, some educational or medical websites that contain nudity or sexual terms may be blocked by Safe Search, while some pornographic or violent websites that use deceptive keywords or images may be missed by Safe Search.
It does not prevent your kids from accessing other sources of explicit content online
Safe Search only applies to Google search results, but there are many other ways that your kids can encounter harmful online content, such as social media platforms, messaging apps, online games, streaming services, or peer-to-peer sharing. Safe Search also does not monitor or control what your kids do online, such as who they chat with, what they share, or what they download.
It may give you a false sense of security or complacency
Relying on Safe Search alone may make you think that your kids are safe online, but that is not the case. Safe Search is not a substitute for parental supervision or guidance. You still need to be aware of what your kids are doing online, and educate them about the potential dangers and risks of the internet.
How can I turn on Google Safe Search?
Google Safe Search is a feature that filters out explicit content from the search results, such as pornography, violence, or profanity. It is designed to provide a safer online environment for children and families. If you want to turn it on, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Go to the Google homepage and click on the Settings icon at the bottom right corner of the page.
- Select “Search settings” from the menu that appears.
- Under the “SafeSearch filters” section, check the box that says “Turn on SafeSearch”.
- If you want to lock Safe Search with your Google account password, so that your kids cannot turn it off without your permission, click on the “Lock SafeSearch” link below the checkbox.
- Sign in to your Google account and confirm your choice.
- You will see a confirmation message that says “SafeSearch is locked across all Google domains”.
- You can turn off or unlock Safe Search by following the same steps and unchecking the box or clicking on the “Unlock SafeSearch” link.
Tips and Alternatives for Parents
Use parental control software or apps
These are tools that allow you to monitor, filter, block, limit, or restrict your kids’ online activities. They can help you prevent your kids from accessing inappropriate or harmful content, as well as manage their screen time, privacy settings, and online behavior. Some examples of parental control software or apps are Qustodio, Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family Premier, and Bark.
Use kid-friendly search engines or browsers
These are platforms that are specially designed for children and families and offer a safer and more curated online experience. They can help you avoid exposing your kids to explicit or irrelevant content, as well as provide them with educational and entertaining resources.
Here are some of them:
- Kiddle: This is a visual search engine that uses Google’s technology to provide kid-oriented results. It shows results in large thumbnails and fonts, and filters out adult content and ads. It also provides safe images, videos, news, and facts for kids.
- KidzSearch: This is another search engine that uses Google’s technology to provide kid-friendly results. It blocks adult content and ads, and also offers educational games, videos, and websites for kids.
- KidRex: This is a fun and colorful search engine that uses Google’s technology to provide safe results for kids. It blocks adult content and ads, and also features hand-picked websites for kids.
- WackySafe: This is a search engine that uses Bing’s technology to provide safe results for kids. It blocks adult content and ads, and also offers kid-friendly images, videos, news, and jokes.
- PikLuk: This is a browser that allows parents to create a whitelist of websites that their kids can access. It blocks all other websites, as well as adult content and ads. It also allows parents to set time limits and monitor their kids’ online activities.
Talk to your kids about online safety and responsibility
The most important thing you can do as a parent is to communicate with your kids about the internet. You should explain to them why some online content is inappropriate or harmful for them, and how they can protect themselves from it. You should also set some rules and boundaries for their online activities, such as what they can and cannot do, when they can and cannot use the internet, and who they can and cannot interact with online. You should also encourage them to report any problems or concerns they have online to you or another trusted adult.
Takeaways
By turning on Safe Search, you can block most of the explicit content from the search results. However, you should be aware that Safe Search is not 100% accurate or reliable, and it does not prevent your kids from accessing other sources of explicit content online. Therefore, you should also use parental control software or apps, kid-friendly search engines or browsers, and talk to your kids about online safety and responsibility.