Researchers have discovered that a new search engine designed exclusively for young children has been found to contain links to pornographic and violent websites.
Kiddle.co.uk – dubbed the ‘Google for children’ – claims to be a safe child-friendly internet search engine. But according to internet sleuths, some rather dark and disturbing content completely unsuitable for children has been discovered lurking on its platform.
Bristolpost.co.uk reports: It appears its content filter is not functioning ideally, shall we say and the new tool appears to have caused some confusion and concerns among users, reports the Mirror.
A number of news outlets have reported the search engine site is an official Google spin-off looking to cater to young internet users.
Parents have also welcomed the creation of the search engine under the impression this is ‘Google for kids’.
But the website has no association with Google – and does not claim to.
It uses a Google Custom Search bar embedded within the website in a bid to filter out adult material.
Certain content is filtered and a number of explicit terms, and celebrities including Pamela Anderson are blocked.
But in some cases, it does not manage this too successfully – such as in these searches for Khloe Kardashian and Vanessa Hudgens.
A number of Twitter users have also reported their own unfortunate discoveries while using the site.
Just heard of a "search engine for kids" called Kiddle. I was disappointed on my very first search. Yikes! pic.twitter.com/1KKlXPbbqy
— Nate Smith (@nthdesign) February 28, 2016
Google has NOT launched a kids search engine called Kiddle, despite some new reports you may read. It's a third-party using Google's results
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) February 28, 2016
The Kiddle website states: “Sites appearing in Kiddle search results satisfy family friendly requirements, as we filter sites with explicit or deceptive content.”
Kiddle has been contacted for comment.