Google Implements Safer Search Settings to Avoid Porn for Image Search
Searching images on Google can be risky business, especially if there's an underage viewer nearby. Double meanings and innuendos can turn an otherwise innocent search query into a rather steamy slideshow, and that can be hard to explain if your kid, wife, or boss strolls by at the wrong time. Google isn't oblivious to the issue, and to help avoid such incidents from playing out, it's making adjustments to its image search engine.
"We've simplified SafeSearch settings on image search and the new default behaves similarly to what most users had as the default previously ('moderate')," Google said in a statement.
On the flip side, Google isn't looking to censor your search results, and if you want to look for triple-X photos, you can still do so. You can still find adult themed images without changing the settings, you may just have to be a little more descriptive when typing out what it is you're looking for.
"We want to show users exactly what they are looking for -- but we aim not to show sexually-explicit results unless a user is specifically searching for them," Google added. "We use algorithms to select the most relevant results for a given query. If you're looking for adult content, you can find it without having to change the default setting -- you just may need to be more explicit in your query if your search terms are potentially ambiguous. The image search settings work the same way as in web and video search."
Alternately, you can flip SafeSearch off altogether and run wild on the web.
This latest changes follows a series of tweaks Google has been making lately, including a new streamlined look to its search results page, and smarter search results for its Google Now technology.
"We've simplified SafeSearch settings on image search and the new default behaves similarly to what most users had as the default previously ('moderate')," Google said in a statement.
On the flip side, Google isn't looking to censor your search results, and if you want to look for triple-X photos, you can still do so. You can still find adult themed images without changing the settings, you may just have to be a little more descriptive when typing out what it is you're looking for.
"We want to show users exactly what they are looking for -- but we aim not to show sexually-explicit results unless a user is specifically searching for them," Google added. "We use algorithms to select the most relevant results for a given query. If you're looking for adult content, you can find it without having to change the default setting -- you just may need to be more explicit in your query if your search terms are potentially ambiguous. The image search settings work the same way as in web and video search."
Alternately, you can flip SafeSearch off altogether and run wild on the web.
This latest changes follows a series of tweaks Google has been making lately, including a new streamlined look to its search results page, and smarter search results for its Google Now technology.
