By default, we have moderate filtering enabled for Google search, that is Google filters explicit images from Google images search results, but it will not filter search results for web search. Today, Google has released another feature to lock SafeSearch so that no explicit content will appear in its search results.
Importance of SafeSearch in Google
There are three SafeSearch settings available to users for Google search, they’re:
1. Moderate filtering : Moderate filtering has been set to all users by default, which will filter explicit images from Google images and does not filter anything in search results. So you are bound to get implicit or abusive content in Google with this setting.
2. Strict filtering : Strict filtering or SafeSearch filtering will filter all explicit images and content in Google search results. You have no chance of getting adult content when this setting is on.
3. No filtering : With ‘No filtering’ setting, you are open to view all sexual stuff, danger in visiting adult sites and downloading dangerous Trojans into your computer. So turning on this setting will do more harm to your computer than good. Hence turning off SafeSearch is not good for any user.
Till now any user or kid can change search settings from Moderate to no filtering by selecting “ do not filter my search results” and can continue to browse adult stuff from Google search results.
UPDATE: Google SafeSearch Settings have changed, check the above screenshot.
Advantage
Now by locking SafeSearch with your Google account for a browser, no user can browse adult stuff in Google from that browser. The user or kid has to know the password of your Google account to unlock it.
How to Lock SafeSearch
To lock SafeSearch, visit Google search settings and click on ‘lock SafeSearch’, which asks you to login to your Google account or to re-enter your password if you’ve already logged in.
Sign into Google account with Gmail id and password, and click ‘Lock SafeSearch’, which will lock explicit content on all Google domains (this will take few seconds). Once the SafeSearch was successfully locked, you’ll be informed about the same. You can confirm that by visiting Google Search Settings page.
Video
To know you are locked SafeSearch
- balloons will appear on right corner of page in Google search results.
- “SafeSearch is locked” shown below the search box.
- Search for word pxxn will not yield any results as Google says “Pxrn is filtered from Google SafeSearch is active
Why Locking SafeSearch feature may not succeed
Kids these days are more cleverer than their parents.
- Parents need to lock SafeSearch on all browsers they are using.
- Browsers need to allow cookies for Google SafeSearch to lock.
- Another search engine Bing is available to access pxxn stuff.
- Can download different browsers and access abusive stuff.
- Once parents unlock SafeSearch feature, kid having Google account can lock, unlock this feature with his Google account.
- Of course, these days operating systems with built in parental controls and also software to block pxxn stuff are there.
Read : Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.2: Parental Control, Data Shield and Rescue Boot Features
Qustodio: Free Parental Control and Internet Monitoring Software
- Locking Google SafeSearch feature may help to some extent.
Now You can Save Google Search Settings to Your Google Account
Want to make it safer
I would like to block on my phone.