GOOGLE IS WORKING on child-friendly versions of YouTube, its search engine and its Chrome browser.
The products will be designed for those aged up to twelve, allowing parents to monitor their children’s activity and ensure they’re safe.
In an interview with USA Today, Google’s VP of engineering, Pavni Diwanji, said the reason for this push was because many of Google’s staff now have kids.
We expect this to be controversial, but the simple truth is kids already have the technology in schools and at home… the better approach is to simply see to it that the tech is used in a better way.”
The company is developing these products in a room dubbed the Kids Studio, where children of employees are encouraged to spend hours tinkering with various prototype products.
Alongside these products will be tools allowing parents to limit how much time their children spend online and where they go.
The company has taken part in other similar projects for children like the virtual Maker Camp, its Doodle 4 Google competition and its Made with Code initiative.
However, one of the major concerns is how it could collect information about children. Strict rules and regulations are already in place and parents must offer consent first before their child is allowed to use a service.
Google has yet to say when these products will be launched.
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