Google is can be a valuable tool for education because it allows easy and quick access to information. However, Google can pose certain dangers to children such as inappropriate content, misinformation, and more. This post, “Google For Kids: Keeping Kids Safe While Searching the Web” will look into ways your kids can be safe while exploring the web.
We’ll also discuss kid-safe alternatives to Google search as well as provide tips on parental oversight and monitoring tools so you can ensure your child is browsing safely on the web.
How To Keep Kids Safe While Searching the Web
Here are some tips to keep your kids safe while searching the web using Google.
Turn the SafeSearch on for their Browsers
SafeSearch enables you to filter explicit content (images, videos, and websites) from your results such as sexually explicit pornography, violence, and gore. However, SafeSearch is not perfect and sometimes explicit content may show up on the search results page.
It can be turned on personal accounts or browsers, children’s supervised devices, or workplace/school devices or networks.
Here’s how to turn SafeSearch On for Google on your own browser or account.
- Go to Google.com on your browser.
- Click on the “Settings” icon (gear icon) in the bottom right corner of the page
- Select “Search Settings”
- On the Search Results tab, Turn on SafeSearch.
To manage search settings for your children, you need to set up Family Link first (more on this later). After setting up Family Link, you can take the following steps to manage your kids’ search settings.
- Open the Family Link app
- Select your child.
- Tap Controls
- Turn SafeSearch on or off.
Use the Family Link App
The Family Link can help you manage your kids’ devices to prevent them from encountering inappropriate content.
It also lets you manage your kids’ screen time, block or allow specific apps, control app permissions, locate your children on the map as long as they are carrying their devices, and get notifications and alerts when your kids leave a certain location.
Family Link is available for Android phones running Lollipop or higher and iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 11 or higher.
Here are the steps to enable Family Link for your child’s android device.
- Go To Settings> Digital Wellbeing and Parental Control > Parental Control
- On the Set up parental control page tap on Get Started.
- On the next page (Who will be using this device), select Child or Teen. Then tap Next.
- Select your child’s Google Account or create one if none.
- Click Next
- Follow the steps to set up supervision on the child’s account.
To start supervising your child’s account, you need to go to Family Link on your device or sign in to Family Link on the website.
From there you can set control restrictions for Google Play, YouTube, Chrome, Google Search, Google Assistant, and Google Photos.
Use Google Kids Space
If your child has a compatible Android device, you can set it up for Google Kids Space. Like with Family Link, you need to create or add an existing account for your children and then set up their devices. You also need the Family Link Account for managing your kids’ devices with Google Kids Space.
Here are the steps in setting up Google Kids Space:
- Turn on the tablet and connect to Wi-Fi.
- When asked who is going to use the device, tap My child.
- If you’ve previously set up the tablet, tap on the Google Kids Space icon
- If you’ve previously set up the tablet, tap on the Google Kids Space icon
- Sign into your child’s existing Google Account or follow the prompts to create a new Google Account for your child.
- When prompted to set up Google Kids Space, tap Set Up.
- Edit your child’s Google Kids Space settings.
- You can manage apps that are already installed. Choose whether your child is allowed to install Google Kids Space-recommended apps with or without your pre-approval. Also, choose if you want to hide recommended apps with ads.
- You can change these settings later with Family Link.
- Tap Accept.
- After you review the additional settings and other apps installed on the device, work with your child to choose their interests and create a character. Your child can tap icons to select categories that they enjoy, like animals, cooking, music, or science. Kids can also customize their experience by creating their own special characters.
- Tap Done.
Enable the Built-In Parental Control App on Your Kids’ Devices if Available
IOS devices have a built-in Parental Control app called Screen Time. This tool allows you to set content and privacy restrictions, allow built-in apps or features, use content ratings and prevent explicit content, and more.
Use a Third-Party Parental Control App
Third-parental control apps can add another layer of protection to your kids’ devices. This type of software allows you to set limits on what websites your child visits. Many parental control apps also allow you to block certain types of content from appearing in search results or limit the amount of time your child spends online each day.
Internet Safety Concerns for Kids
When it comes to internet safety for kids, there are a number of concerns that parents need to be aware of such as cyberbullying and online predators, inappropriate content and ads, and unmonitored social media use.
Cyberbullying & Online Predators
Cyberbullying is one of the most common dangers facing young people today. It involves using technology such as computers, phones, and tablets to harass or intimidate someone else in an online setting.
This type of bullying can take many forms including sending hurtful messages or images, posting embarrassing information about someone else online, or even creating fake accounts in order to spread rumors about another person.
Parents should talk openly with their children about cyberbullying and remind them never to engage in this type of behavior themselves.
Additionally, they should monitor their child’s activity on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram so they know if any negative interactions are taking place between their child and other users.
Online predators pose another serious risk for kids who use the internet without proper supervision from adults.
These individuals often attempt to establish relationships with minors by posing as someone else through chat rooms or messaging apps such as Kik Messenger or WhatsApp Messenger – two popular apps used by teens today – in order to gain access to private conversations where more personal information may be shared than intended by either party involved in the conversation.
To protect against these types of situations, parents should make sure that all communication applications used by their child have parental controls enabled, which will allow them greater visibility into what kind of conversations are occurring between their child and others.
Inappropriate Content & Ads
In addition to cyberbullying and online predators, inappropriate content found throughout the web is something that parents must remain vigilant against when monitoring their kid’s activities while browsing.
From explicit language found within search engine results to pornographic images appearing alongside advertisements on certain websites – these types of materials could easily end up being seen by younger eyes if left unchecked.
Unmonitored Social Media Use
Parents should be aware of the potential risks their children may face online and take steps to ensure their safety. This includes establishing rules, monitoring activity regularly, and having open conversations with your child.
Parental Oversight & Monitoring Tips
Parental oversight and monitoring are essential for keeping kids safe online. Establishing rules and guidelines, monitoring online activity regularly, and having open conversations with your child are all important steps that parents can take to ensure their children’s safety.
Establish Rules & Guidelines
It is important for parents to set clear expectations when it comes to internet use. This includes setting limits on the amount of time spent online, what sites they can visit, who they can interact with, etc. Parents should also make sure their children understand the consequences of breaking these rules so that they know there will be repercussions if they do not follow them.
Monitor Online Activity Regularly
Parents should keep an eye on what their children are doing online by checking in periodically or using parental control software/apps to monitor activity more closely. This will help ensure that kids are staying safe while browsing the web or playing games/using apps on their devices.
Having Open Conversations with your Child
Having regular conversations about internet safety is key in making sure your child understands the risks associated with being online as well as how to protect themselves from potential dangers such as cyberbullying or inappropriate content/ads. Talking openly and honestly about these topics will help create a trusting relationship between parent and child, which is essential for ensuring kids stay safe while using technology responsibly.
Resources for Keeping Kids Safe Online
Parents are always looking for ways to keep their kids safe online. With the internet being a vast and ever-changing landscape, it can be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, there are several resources available that parents can use to help protect their children while they’re online.
Educational Resources & Tutorials
There are many websites and tutorials available that provide information on how to stay safe online. These resources often include tips on creating strong passwords, avoiding phishing scams, understanding privacy settings, and more. Additionally, some of these sites offer interactive activities or quizzes that can help teach kids about internet safety in an engaging way.
Parental Control Software & Apps
Parental control software is designed specifically for monitoring your child’s activity online. This type of software allows you to set limits on what websites your child visits as well as monitor their social media accounts for any suspicious behavior or content.
Many parental control apps also allow you to block certain types of content from appearing in search results or limit the amount of time your child spends online each day.
If you come across inappropriate content while browsing with your child, it is important that you report it immediately so that other users do not have access to it either accidentally or intentionally.
Most websites have a reporting system built into them so that users can easily flag offensive material when they see it without having to contact customer service directly. Additionally, if your child has been the victim of cyberbullying or another form of abuse while using an app or website then there should be clear instructions provided by the platform itself on how best to proceed with filing a complaint against the perpetrator(s).
FAQs in Relation to Google for Kids: Keeping Kids Safe While Searching the Web
Are there alternative safe search engines for kids?
There are kid-friendly search engine options out there that you might want to consider. Examples are Safe Search Kids, Kidz Search, Kidtopia, GoGooligans, and more. Many of these search engines are also powered by Google’s SafeSearch features but they have additional filtering to block potentially harmful materials.
Do Other Popular Search Engines have Safe Search Features?
Yes. Bing, Yahoo, and Duckduck Go have a safe search feature that you can set to Strict, Moderate, or Off in the settings.
How to search safely on the internet for kids?
Searching safely on the internet for kids requires parents to be proactive and informed. Researching games, apps, websites, and other online content is essential in order to ensure that your child has a safe experience.
Parents should look into age-appropriate ratings of the content their children are accessing as well as read reviews from trusted sources such as Common Sense Media or Parent Zone.
Additionally, parental controls can be set up on devices to limit access to certain types of content and block inappropriate sites.
Finally, it’s important to talk with your child about what they’re doing online so you can better understand how they use technology and help them make smart decisions when using the internet.
Conclusion
Keeping kids safe while searching the web is one of the primary concerns of parents. With the help of tools such as safe search features and parental control apps, parents can ensure that their kids can safely access the web.
Aside from these tools, parental oversight and monitoring plus awareness of the dangers of the Internet are also essential in keeping our kids safe online.
We need to ensure our children are safe while searching the web, and that they have access to trustworthy information about what games and apps are appropriate for them. That’s why Safe To Play is a project designed to provide real reviews and reports on whether or not games and apps can be considered suitable for kids.
By providing this valuable service we will help keep our kids safer online by giving parents peace of mind knowing their child is in good hands with trusted sources of information. Let’s join together as parents, guardians, educators, developers, designers & more to make sure all kids stay safe when playing online!