Nearly every major search engine on the internet comes with the ability to filter out most “adult” web content that is not appropriate for children. Unfortunately none of the search engines have this feature turned on to its strictest settings by default. Below are a list of all major search engines with instructions how to turn on the strict web filtering feature known as “safe searching”.

Please keep in mind, however, that just as you can turn this feature on, a savvy child can also turn this feature off. Also, in order for these features to work you must FIRST log in to the computer account to which you want them to apply! If you have more than one child’s log-in on a computer then you will need to log in as each child and turn this feature on for each web site. The time spent doing this is well worth the effort!

Please note that there are also some very good child-centered search engines on the internet. Here are the top four:
www.dibdabdoo.com           www.ajkids.com           www.kidsclick.org          www.yahooligans.com

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT YouTube:

A. GOOGLE.COM

1. Click the gear symbol in the upper right corner of their website and select Search Settings.
2. The fourth item down is Safe Search Filtering. Select the radio button for “Use Strict Filtering”
3. Be sure to click the button at the top or bottom right that says “Save Preferences”.

B. BING.COM

1. Click the word Preferences which is located in the upper right corner of the window.
2. The first item down is Safe Search. Select the radio button for “Strict Filtering”
3. Be sure to click the button at the top or bottom right that says “Save Settings”.

C. YAHOO.COM

1. Click into the Yahoo search field and enter any word such as “test” and hit enter.
2. Yahoo will return a set of links. Just to the right of the search field find the drop down menu called Options. Click it and select Preferences.
3. Safe Search is the second item on the list. Click the Edit link to the right of it.
4. Select the top radio button “Filter out adult Web, video, and image search results - SafeSearch On”
5. Click the Save button at the top or bottom of the window.
NOTE: Safe search may only work when logged into a Yahoo account

D. HULU.COM (Popular video media site)

1. Scroll to the very bottom of the website and click the words Advanced Search on the grey bar to the right of the search field.
2. Click the checkbox on the right that says Display family-friendly results only. NOTE: Safe search will ONLY remain in effect for your session. Every time you return to Hulu, you will have to turn this feature on.

E. ASKJEEVES.COM (Also called ASK.COM)

1. In the very upper right corner of your screen, click on the word Settings.
2. Locate the second item down the list: Content Filtering. Click the second radio button for “Never show alerts. Always filter content.”
3. Click “Save Changes”

F. SEARCH.AOL.COM

1. Click the word Settings located at the top of the window.
2. Select "Use Strict Filtering" under Safe Search.
3. Click "Save Settings"

G. HOTBOT.COM

1. Click the word Add which is located under the search field and next to “Custom Web Filters”.
2. Look for the item Block Offensive Content. Click the check box next to these words AND click “Always” to the right of this line item.
3. Be sure to click the Save button at the bottom of this list.

H. SEARCH.COM

1. Click the word "Settings" located in the upper right corner of the window.
2. Look for the Safe Search options.
3. Under Safe Search options click all 3 check boxes and then click OK.

I. BLINKX.COM (Video search)

Safe Search is turned on by default.

J. DOGPILE.COM

1. Click the word Preferences which is located just to the right of the search field.
2. The first item down is Search Filter. Select the radio button for “ Filter: Heavy - All results will be filtered, including Web and Multimedia Search results with as much explicit context removed as possible.”
3. Be sure to click the button at the bottom of the window that says “Save Settings”.

K. EXCITE.COM

1. Click into the search field and enter any word such as “test” and hit enter.
2. Excite.com will return a set of links. Click the word to the right of Safe Search, which will appear in grey under the black heading.
3. Under the Safe Search popup to appear, select: Heavy.

L. WEBCRAWLER.COM

1. Click the word Preferences which is located to the right of the search field.
2. The first item down is Search Filter. Select the radio button for “ Filter: Heavy - All results will be filtered, including Web and Multimedia Search results with as much explicit context removed as possible.”
3. Be sure to click the button at the bottom of the window that says “Save Settings”.