Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) recently confirmed plans to launch kid-friendly versions of YouTube and Chrome. Pavni Diwanji (vice president of engineering) explained the goal was to keep kids 12 and under safe from unsuitable content on the internet.
Google wants to cater to a much younger market
Although Diwanji didn’t go into many details regarding the project, she did say it would be ideal for kids at home and school. She sat down with USA Today and told them, “The big motivator inside the company is everyone is having kids, so there’s a push to change our products to be fun and safe for children. We expect this to be controversial, but the simple truth is kids already have the technology in schools and at home, so the better approach is to simply see to it that the tech is used in a better way.”
In the last few months, Google ramped up efforts to appeal to a younger audience. Some of the more notable programs include Doodle 4 Google, Make Camp, and Made with Code. There is also discussion involving a specific variation of the Google search algorithm under development. This will ensure better and safer search results for young people.
Safety a key priority
Diwanji added, “We want to be thoughtful about what we do, giving parents the right tools to oversee their kids’ use of our products. We want kids to be safe, but ultimately it’s about helping them be more than just pure consumers of tech, but creators, too.”
Google’s intentions are a great thing for families with kids and tweens. Nearly all children in the United States use the internet on a daily basis and many parents have serious concerns about internet safety and protection. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s upcoming projects will likely ease concerns and provide kids with a better internet experience fine-tuned to their needs.
