Google is strengthening its commitment to online safety for young users with a series of updates aimed at providing more age-appropriate experiences and empowering parents with greater control. These enhancements build upon Google’s existing safeguards for users under 18, further protecting them while they explore the benefits of the internet.
Safeguards for Kids and Teens
Google has implemented various measures to ensure age-appropriate experiences for young users, including SafeSearch filtering, restrictions on sensitive ad content, and protections on YouTube and Play. The company is also introducing a new sensitive content warning feature in Google Messages, which is opt-in for adults and opt-out for users under 18, with parental controls for supervised accounts.
To address the challenge of accurately determining user age, Google will begin testing a machine learning-based age estimation model in the US. This model will help estimate whether a user is over or under 18 to apply appropriate protections. The technology will be expanded to more countries over time.
Family-Focused Controls
Google Family Link provides parents with tools to manage their children’s digital habits. An update to Family Link will bring key tools and resources for managing screen time to the forefront, making it easier for parents to manage multiple children’s online experiences across Android and Chrome devices.
Family Link will also include new capabilities to help students stay focused in class by minimizing distractions from personal devices. The “School Time” feature will allow parents to automatically limit or adjust phone functionality and restrict app access during school hours.
Starting next month, parents will be able to add contacts directly to their child’s device and limit phone calls and text conversations to only those contacts. These parent-approved contacts can help foster safer and more intentional connections.
Helpful Experiences for Kids and Teens
Google is committed to providing youth-focused features and products, including the Fitbit Ace LTE, Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids, YouTube Kids, and supervised experiences. This spring, supervised Android users under the applicable age of consent will gain the ability to tap to pay from their phones using Google Wallet. Parents will be able to approve or remove cards and view transaction history.
Google also aims to prepare teens for a future with generative AI, teaching them how to use this technology responsibly and creatively. The company has made several features and products available for teens, including AI Overviews, Gemini, and Circle to Search. Access to features like Learn About, which uses generative AI for interactive learning experiences, and NotebookLM, a personalized AI research assistant, will be expanded in the coming months.
Google remains dedicated to investing in technologies that protect and empower young users across its platforms. The company is also committed to collaborating with stakeholders worldwide to advance policies that promote online safety for youth.
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