Google+ Safety Enhancements For Teens Announced

Google’s Bradley Horowitz, VP Product on Google+, announced on Google+ that the company is launching some enhancements designed to keep teens safe on Google+. Given the company’s new priva...
Google+ Safety Enhancements For Teens Announced
Written by Chris Crum
  • Google’s Bradley Horowitz, VP Product on Google+, announced on Google+ that the company is launching some enhancements designed to keep teens safe on Google+.

    Given the company’s new privacy policy consolidation, I guess that means keeping teens safe using Google in general. Horowitz writes:
    Teens and young adults are the most active Internet users on the planet. And surprise, surprise: they’re also human beings who enjoy spending time with friends and family. Put these two things together and it’s clear that teens will increasingly connect online. Unfortunately, online sharing is still second-rate for this age group.

    In life, for instance, teens can share the right things with just the right people (like classmates, parents or close ties). Over time, the nuance and richness of selective sharing even promotes authenticity and accountability. Sadly, today’s most popular online tools are rigid and brittle by comparison, so teens end up over-sharing with all of their so-called “friends.”

    With one of the new changes, Google will encourage teens to think before they post when they try to share something outside their circles.

    <a href=Google+ gets safer for teens” src=”http://cdn.ientry.com/sites/webpronews/article_pics/teen-warning.jpg” title=”Google+ gets safer for teens” class=”aligncenter” width=”561″ height=”197″ />

    For notifications, by default, only those in teens’ circles will be able to say hello.

    If a stranger outside a teen’s circles joins a hangout, Google temporarily removes the teen, and gives them a chance to rejoin.

    Rejoin hangout

    Get the WebProNews newsletter delivered to your inbox

    Get the free daily newsletter read by decision makers

    Subscribe
    Advertise with Us

    Ready to get started?

    Get our media kit