How to Turn on Safe Search

While Google has put a lot of time and effort into their safe search feature on their search engine, there is still plenty of confusion about how it works and how to make sure it's implemented properly by parents and teachers.

Google SafeSearch is activated on your computer on their preferences page: http://www.google.com/preferences

The default setting for most computers is the mid level security setting which only filters out inappropriate images from search term results. For parents who want to engage a stricter filtering system, you simply need to go to the preferences page and select the highest level of security. This setting filters out both illicit text, as well as images.

As mentioned on the very top of this page, using the search box above overrides all computer settings to ensure that any search done on this page utilizes Google's highest level of security: Strict Filtering (Filtering both explicit text and explicit images).

Problems with the SafeSearch filtering

The main problem with the safe search setting has been that it can be turned off easily by anyone. However, there is now a way to LOCK your safe search settings using your free Google account. If you have gmail or are signed up with any other Google program, such as Blogger or iGoogle, then you already have an account. If not, go to Google.com and look in the top right corner of their main site. Click "Sign In"... at which point you will see a link to create a new account.

For step by step instructions on how to LOCK Google SafeSearch using your account, watch the video below. Once you have locked safe search to the highest level of security, simply sign out of your account and no one can deactivate it unless they also log into your account. Remember not to allow your browser to 'remember' your password, otherwise anyone will be able to log into your account and turn the safe search settings off.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Using this website ensures that Google Safe Search is set on the highest level of security to filter both inappropriate text results and images. Locking SafeSearch as shown below is needed if members of your family conduct searches on Google main website.