Tired of Seeing Inappropriate Content on Search Results? Learn How to Use SafeSearch

January 19, 2024

292

Sometimes when we visit a website we are looking for something. But it may show different results and inappropriate or explicit content. Have you ever experienced something like this? Search engines provide a solution for this. If you don’t know that then surely this article will help you. Search engines provide you with a feature called Safe Search.

Whether you want to surf the web safely or set up safe web searches for your kids, search engines have realized the need and provided settings for that. So here you can see in detail how to confirm a safe search and how it works. Through this article, we will see where you need to change its settings and how to do it.

Table of Contents

What Is SafeSearch?

Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo can show adult content in search results. To prevent this, they added a filtering feature known as SafeSearch.

Its purpose is to prevent such content from appearing in search results. When you enable SafeSearch, you make the internet safer for your family and yourself.

SafeSearch filters various types of explicit content, including pornography, violence, and other inappropriate material. It aims to exclude images, videos, text, or certain websites that may be offensive or unsuitable for certain audiences.

However, even though SafeSearch hides content to provide a safer browsing experience, it may not be 100% accurate. Occasionally, some explicit content may still appear. This is where it is essential to understand how to operate SafeSearch and its settings to minimize the risk of inappropriate content views.

Changing SafeSearch Settings

In order to change your SafeSearch settings, it’s important to take note of the browser you are using and what devices you browse the web with. Here is how to change SafeSearch settings on different browsers:

Google SafeSearch Settings

When you visit the Google homepage, you can easily access the SafeSearch settings by clicking on the “Settings” option at the bottom right of the page. Then you can choose the “Search Settings” option and all you need to do is just scroll down until you find the option called “SafeSearch Filters.”

Once you access it, select the level of filtering desired. Actually, You will see here three options: The first one is “Strict”, the Next one is “Moderate”, and the last one is “Off”. After choosing your option, remember to save the changes.

You can also change SafeSearch settings on mobile devices by accessing your Google app or visiting the Google search page. Tap on the three horizontal lines/menu icon and select “Settings.” Choose “General” and scroll down to find “SafeSearch Filters”. Select the desired filtering level and save the settings.

Bing SafeSearch Settings

To change the SafeSearch settings on a web browser while using Bing, visit the homepage and click on the menu icon/three horizontal lines in the top-right corner. Select “Settings” and then “More” from the drop-down menu. Under “SafeSearch,” choose the Strict, Moderate, or Off option and save the changes.

To change Bing SafeSearch settings on your mobile devices, you can open the Bing app or visit the Bing search page. Tap on the menu icon/three horizontal lines and select “Settings.” Tap on “SafeSearch,” choose the filtering level, and save your changes.

Yahoo SafeSearch Settings

Visit the Yahoo search page and click the menu icon in the top-right corner to access the SafeSearch settings. Choose “Preferences” and then “Search Preferences.” Under “SafeSearch,” select the desired level of filtering and save the changes.

If you want to change Yahoo SafeSearch settings on mobile devices:

Use the Yahoo app or visit its search page.
Tap on the three horizontal lines and select “Settings.”
Choose “Preferences” and then click on “SafeSearch”.
Select the filtering level and save the changes.

Conclusion

You can lock your SafeSearch settings to ensure effectiveness and prevent unauthorized users from disabling or modifying the filtering level. Children learn quickly and may find out how to change these settings.

However, if you lock SafeSearch, you can prevent them from making modifications. Locking SafeSearch usually requires creating an account or signing in to your search engine account. Here, you can adjust the parental control settings and lock SafeSearch.

Remember to regularly review and adjust the settings as needed to ensure consistent and reliable filtering of search results.