Setting Search Engine Filtering Preferences

Many search engines allow the user to adjust the default filtering preferences. In most cases, a link to these settings is found somewhere on the search engine's homepage.

Setting these preferences on your classroom computers should your first priority if your students will use search engines in your classroom.

Important Note: Search engine web filtering is far from perfect. You will still need to closely monitor your student's use of the search engines.

Here are specific instructions for several of the major search engines.

Google: Click on Preferences on the right side of the screen. Scroll down until you see SafeSearch Filtering. Click the button in front of Use Strict Filtering and then scroll further down the page and click on Save Preferences.

alltheweb: Click on customize preferences on the right side of the screen. Click the button in On in the Offensive content filter section. Scroll down the page and click on the Save and Apply Settings button.

Yahoo!: Click on Preferences on the right side of the screen. Click the button in front of Strict - Filter out mature images and Web content. Click on the Save Preferences.

AskJeeves: Click on Your Settings in the upper right corner of the screen. Click the button in front of Limit my exposure to Adult content. Click on the Save my settings button.

Vivisimo: Click on advanced on the right side of the screen. Scroll down the screen until you see the Filter section. Check the button in front of No offensive content. Important Note: It appears that you can not save this preference and that it will need to be checked again with each new search.

iBoogie: Click on the Advanced tab. Make sure that the box in front of Show Adult Content is not checked. Click on Save.

Teoma: Does not currently offer web filtering

MSN Search: Does not currently offer web filtering

Note: Your filtering preferences will be saved as a "cookie" on your computer. You will need to do this for all computers and all the web browsers (if you use more than one) in your classroom / home. You will most likely need to set the filtering preferences again if you upgrade your computer or web browser(s). Check periodically to insure that the filtering preferences haven't changed.

The availability of web filtering on the search engines changes from time to time. Danny Sullivan's SearchEngineWatch site usually has current information on setting search engine filtering options.

 

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Workshop developed by Bob Jost | Last updated July 19, 2004
Copyright © 2004 by Bob Jost. All rights reserved.