For years, many parents have urged Google to create tools to help children avoid seeing inappropriate material in search engine results.
Aside from its existing parental controls, Google recently released its own kid-friendly search engine, Kiddle, which takes search terms and returns results that are safe for kids to read, handpicked by Kiddle editors.
There's just one problem, critics say it doesn't always filter out content many would consider inappropriate and its so-called restrictions are so simplistic that getting around them is, well, child's play.
"Some celebrities currently slip through the net including some of the Kardashian clan, as well as Vanessa Hudgens' racy photoshoots," Sky News reported. "A search for a rabbit brings up a news story about a rabbit being killed by a Danish radio host."
"A simple spelling mistake or breaking up of the words can get you detailed results on things of a sexual nature," The Next Web's Amanda Connolly wrote. "If I could find these in less than two minutes, I have no doubt that any Internet-savvy kid can do the same."
Another criticism up for debate is where to draw the line between what protects a child's innocence and what keep them ignorant of the real world. Kiddle blocks terms Connolly argued should be left alone, such as "suicide" or "menstruation."
"These are everyday things that children will deal with, regardless of whether Kiddle blocks them or not. Its only blocking them from the Internet, not real life, and preventing kids from learning appropriately," Connolly wrote. "While the intentions of Kiddles creator may have been good, it needs some work before it can be regarded as truly useful in my opinion."
Aside from its existing parental controls, Google recently released its own kid-friendly search engine, Kiddle, which takes search terms and returns results that are safe for kids to read, handpicked by Kiddle editors.
There's just one problem, critics say it doesn't always filter out content many would consider inappropriate and its so-called restrictions are so simplistic that getting around them is, well, child's play.
"Some celebrities currently slip through the net including some of the Kardashian clan, as well as Vanessa Hudgens' racy photoshoots," Sky News reported. "A search for a rabbit brings up a news story about a rabbit being killed by a Danish radio host."
"A simple spelling mistake or breaking up of the words can get you detailed results on things of a sexual nature," The Next Web's Amanda Connolly wrote. "If I could find these in less than two minutes, I have no doubt that any Internet-savvy kid can do the same."
Another criticism up for debate is where to draw the line between what protects a child's innocence and what keep them ignorant of the real world. Kiddle blocks terms Connolly argued should be left alone, such as "suicide" or "menstruation."
"These are everyday things that children will deal with, regardless of whether Kiddle blocks them or not. Its only blocking them from the Internet, not real life, and preventing kids from learning appropriately," Connolly wrote. "While the intentions of Kiddles creator may have been good, it needs some work before it can be regarded as truly useful in my opinion."
