Google Kids is set to launch, a search engine for the 13-and-below demographic.
The concept behind Google Kids isn't new; services like KidRex and GoGooligans are already available to parents who want to oversee their children's online activities. This will be the first time the tech giant actively taps into an entire demographic, though.
The new product promises to provide a safe surfing experience for children, 13 years and below. It'll also promote creative learning with search results appropriate for the demographic. For example, a query for the word "airplane" will yield educational information on the vehicle, instead of a list of airline companies and promotional fares.
Still, Google Kids raises a few concerns for parents, particularly in terms of manipulated trends and targeted advertising. Some suspect the service will be used to provide search results customized for purchases.
There's still the assurance the Google service will block out inappropriate and obscene content. Though the current generation of kids are sometimes more in-the-know with technology than their parents, a search engine product made for kids can still make a difference.
In an interview with USA Today, VP of Engineering Pavni Diwanji defends the service. "We expect this to be controversial, but the simple truth is kids already have the technology in schools and at home." Diwanji, a mother of children aged 8 and 13, says Google Kids will offer 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."
Watchdog groups remain leery of the service, and insist parents monitor their children's online activity, especially if they have their own Google Kids account. Marc Rotenberg of Electronic Privacy Information Center:
"The prospect of audio-based advertising targeting our children is very real, and that's significant when you're talking about an age group that is very susceptible to manipulation. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will have to step up on this. I don't think we want a world where our kids are sold things they don't need." (source: rt.com)
