Glossary/Platform & App Features/Safe Search

what is safe search

What is Safe Search?

Safe search is a setting in search engines that filters out explicit content — including adult images, videos, and websites — from search results. Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo all offer safe search settings, and some routers and DNS services can enforce safe search network-wide.

Why It Matters for Families

Search engines are a frequent unintentional entry point to inappropriate content — sometimes through innocent searches. Safe search significantly reduces accidental exposure without blocking legitimate educational content.

Warning Signs to Watch For

1Safe search is not enabled on your child's devices or browser
2Your child has encountered disturbing content through a search engine

What You Can Do

Enable safe search in your child's browser and Google account settings. For more robust enforcement, use family-friendly DNS services like CleanBrowsing or OpenDNS, which apply safe search at the network level — covering all devices on your home WiFi.

CleoSocial Helps with Safe Search

CleoSocial's content ratings, time limits, and family dashboard address safe search directly — without surveillance or conflict.

Get Started Free Browse Safety Guides

Related Terms

A content filter is a tool or service that blocks access to specific types of content — websites, apps, or material — based on rules or categories. Filters can operate at the app level, device level, or network level (router or DNS), and range from keyword blocking to AI-powered content classification.

Parental Controls

Parental controls are tools that allow parents to manage and restrict their child's access to content, apps, features, or screen time. They range from built-in device features (like Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link) to app-level controls offered by individual platforms.

Restricted Mode

Restricted mode (also called 'safe mode' or 'supervised experience' on various platforms) is a setting on streaming and social media platforms that filters out content that may be inappropriate for younger audiences. It's typically available in account settings and can often be locked with a passcode.

DNS filtering is a network-level content control that blocks access to websites and online services by intercepting domain name requests before they resolve. By pointing your home router to a family-safe DNS provider, you can block inappropriate content across every device on your network without installing software on each device.

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