Google has announced significant updates to its Google Search platform, empowering users to take charge of their personal information, privacy, and online safety. With a focus on providing users with more control and protection, these new features aim to enhance the overall search experience.
An Easier Way to Manage Personal Information
Google has introduced an improved Results about you tool, enabling users to easily find and remove search results containing personal contact information such as phone numbers, home addresses, or emails. The updated tool now offers a dashboard that alerts users if web results with their contact information appear on Search. Users can promptly request the removal of such results, providing added peace of mind.
How to Use the Tool: Users can access the tool by clicking on their Google account photo in the Google app and selecting “Results about you.” Alternatively, they can visit the dedicated page at goo.gle/resultsaboutyou. While currently available in the U.S. in English, Google plans to expand it to new languages and locations soon.
Enhanced Family Safety
Google has introduced a new SafeSearch blurring setting to protect users and families from encountering explicit imagery on Search. Explicit content, including adult or graphic violent material, will be blurred by default in search results. This safeguard provides an added layer of protection for users and can be adjusted or turned off anytime unless locked by a guardian or school network administrator.
Additionally, finding parental controls has been made more accessible directly within Search. By typing relevant queries such as “google parental controls” or “google family link,” users can locate information on managing parental controls effectively.
Personal Explicit Image Policies
Google has updated its policies to enable users to remove any personal, explicit images from Search that they no longer wish to be visible. Users can request removal if they had previously created and uploaded explicit content to a website, then deleted it, but find it being published elsewhere without their approval. This policy does not apply to content currently being commercialized.
Simplified Forms for Content Removal
To streamline content removal requests, Google has updated and simplified the forms used for submissions. Users can request the removal of content from Google Search, providing them with more control over private information that appears on the platform.
These new features and updates reflect Google’s commitment to making Search a safer and more privacy-conscious experience for its users.