by samIt is well known that Google algorithms help users find the best results matching their queries within Google’s organic search results. But earlier this year Google faced some problems with their SafeSearch tool, with engineer Jeremy Hoffman commenting in a Quora thread suggesting it was a bug!
SafeSearch allows users to change their browser settings to prevent adult content from appearing in their organic search results. However, Google faced some issues when people were searching impossible queries and being offered adult content as an outcome.
For example, queries included –s”s2” this suggests that the user is asking Google to find them pages which don’t have the letter S but which have a phrase like “s2”. But this is an impossible ask as the phrase includes the letter S which has been asked to be excluded.
This use of the numbers seemed to be the key to causing the anti-SafeSearch also known as turning the SafeSearch off, as queries such as –title, title didn’t cause the unwanted adult content to appear in the results.
Now it seems, with the bug fixed, the same issue doesn’t happen. So the impossible queries are now offering no search results, or results which Google deems relevant.
However, this tool doesn’t stop users who want to reach adult content. With the option to have SafeSearch on or off Google manages to keep all users happy and still offer the most relevant content within the organic search results.
Turning Safesearch on or off
- Visit the Search Settings at www.google.com/preferences
- In the “SafeSearch filters” section, check the box next to “Filter explicit results” turning the SafeSearch tool on. However, if you leave it unchecked Google will provide the most relevant results for the user but explicit content may appear within these
- Make sure to click the Save button to save your changes
But, businesses must not be misled. When carrying out online marketing they must still make sure that they don’t link to sites which carry adult content as they will still affect the ranking of their site. Although Google can offer users results with such content, they will not offer websites with links to such content. So beware. A site may be relevant to a user’s search term but with a link to a harmful site, Google may deem a site to not be relevant or a quality site.
Not only this, but the Safesearch tool will not let a user with the tool switched on view a site if it is linked with a site which has adult content on it. So businesses must not link to these types of sites as it will prevent those with SafeSearch switched on from seeing their site, and it will prevent Google from ranking them highly due to their poor quality reputation it will bring to the site.