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#TECH: Creating safer online space for kids and teens

KUALA LUMPUR: In its effort to create a better and secure Internet for kids and teens, Google is introducing some new policies and updates in the coming weeks for people under 18.

Here are aming the updates:

1. YouTube: Google is going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available for teens ages 13-17. In addition, it will more prominently surface digital wellbeing features, and provide safeguards and education about commercial content.

2. Search: On Google, there is a range of systems, tools and policies that are designed to help people discover content from across the web while not surprising them with mature content they haven't searched for. One of the protections is SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled and is already on by default for all signed-in users under 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link. In the coming months, Google will turn SafeSearch on for existing signed-in users under 18 and make this the default setting for teens setting up new accounts.

3. Assistant: Google will prevent mature content from surfacing during a child's experience with Google Assistant on shared devices, and in the coming months we'll be introducing new default protections. For example, the site will apply our SafeSearch technology to the web browser on smart displays.

4. Location history: Location History is a Google account setting that helps make Google products more useful. It's already off by default for all accounts, and children with supervised accounts don't have the option of turning Location History on. Taking this a step further, Google will soon extend this to users under the age of 18 globally, meaning that Location History will remain off (without the option to turn it on).

5. Play: Building on efforts like content ratings, and the "Teacher-approved apps" for quality kids content, Google will be launching a new safety section that will let parents know which apps follow our Families policies. Apps will be required to disclose how they use the data they collect in greater detail, making it easier for parents to decide if the app is right for their child before they download it.

6. Google Workspace for Education: As recently announced, Google is making it much easier for administrators to tailor experiences for their users based on age (such as restricting student activity on YouTube). And to make web browsing safer, countries with K-12 institutions will have SafeSearch technology enabled by default, while switching to Guest Mode and Incognito Mode for web browsing will be turned off by default.

New advertising changes

Google said it will be expanding safeguards to prevent age-sensitive ad categories from being shown to teens, and we will block ad targeting based on the age, gender or interests of people under 18. The company will start rolling out these updates across our products globally over the coming months. The goal is to ensure we're providing additional protections and delivering age-appropriate experiences for ads on Google.

New digital wellbeing tools

In Family Link, parents can set screen time limits and reminders for their kids' supervised devices. And, on Assistant-enabled smart devices, we give parents control through Digital Wellbeing tools available in the Google Home app.

In the coming months, Google will roll out new Digital Wellbeing filters that allow people to block news, podcasts, and access to web pages on Assistant-enabled smart devices.

Meanwhile, On YouTube,Goolge said it will turn on 'take a break' and bedtime reminders and turn off autoplay for users under 18. And, on YouTube Kids the comany will add an autoplay option and turn it off by default to empower parents to make the right choice for their families.

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