In this guide
Short answer: switch on SafeSearch for Google and Bing, use Restricted Mode or a supervised experience on YouTube, and lock the settings so children cannot turn them off. For the strongest result, enforce safe search at network level, so it applies to every browser and device on your home WiFi.
Search engines and video sites are the first places most children go. Both offer filters, but they only work if they are switched on and if the child cannot simply switch them off again.
SafeSearch on Google and Bing
SafeSearch filters explicit images, videos and websites out of search results. It can be turned on in the search settings, and on a supervised child account it is switched on by default and locked. It is a helpful layer, but it only applies to searches on that account or browser.
YouTube: three different experiences
| Option | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Kids | Younger children | A separate app with content picked for children, and parent controls |
| Supervised experience | Pre-teens and teenagers | Regular YouTube with a content setting chosen by the parent |
| Restricted Mode | Any household | A setting that hides potentially mature content |
The weakness: settings can be switched off
Browser and account settings are easy to change. A child can sign out, use a different browser, use a private window or sign in as someone else. That is why it is worth enforcing safe search somewhere the child cannot reach.
Enforcing safe search across your whole network
Google, Bing and YouTube support network-level enforcement. A router or DNS filter points your devices at special addresses that force safe search or restricted mode, regardless of what each device is set to. Examples include Google’s force-safe-search address, a strict Bing address, and restricted addresses for YouTube. When it is set up properly, it applies to every browser and device, including those with no settings of their own.
This is exactly the kind of job that is quick for a professional and fiddly for most parents, because the setting differs by router and the filter must be configured carefully. Done well, it also catches games consoles and smart TVs.
Steps to follow at home
- Create supervised accounts for younger children, and lock SafeSearch on.
- Choose YouTube Kids or a supervised experience for each child.
- Turn on Restricted Mode on shared family devices.
- Enforce safe search at router or DNS level for all devices.
- Check the settings every few months, and after router changes or updates.
Keep it in context
Safe search filters results, not every site a child can reach, so combine it with category filtering and device controls. Our guides to router versus app parental controls and Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link show how the layers fit together. If your child is finding workarounds, read how to stop kids from bypassing parental controls.
An age-by-age approach
| Age | Sensible starting point |
|---|---|
| Under 8 | YouTube Kids only, SafeSearch locked on, devices used in shared spaces |
| 8 to 12 | Supervised YouTube experience, SafeSearch locked, network filtering on |
| 13 and over | Restricted Mode as a default, more freedom, regular conversations about what they see |
What these filters will not do
- They will not catch everything. New sites appear constantly, and filters make mistakes in both directions.
- They do not cover social media, messaging apps or games, which need their own settings.
- They do not help when a child uses a friend’s device or mobile data.
- They cannot replace talking. Children who know they can tell you about something unpleasant are far safer.
HomeIT Services sets up safe search, filtering and schedules for families across Essex. See parental controls and internet filtering, or contact us from Rayleigh, Chelmsford or nearby.
Frequently asked questions
No filter is perfect. SafeSearch filters explicit results from Google search, but it will not catch everything and does not cover other apps.
Restricted Mode filters potentially mature content on regular YouTube. YouTube Kids is a separate app with content chosen for children and stricter controls.
On an unsupervised account they can. Locking it through a supervised account or enforcing it on your network makes it much harder to change.
Account and browser settings only work where they are enabled. Network-level enforcement covers every browser and device on your home WiFi.
Usually not. Older children are likely to find it too limited, and a supervised experience on regular YouTube suits them better.
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