Microsoft Edge Gains New 'Kids Mode' for Safer Web Browsing

[MacRumors]

Microsoft has released a new Kids Mode for its popular Edge browser that allows children to discover the web in a fun way while limiting their access to only approved sites.

Aimed at pre-teens, Kids Mode can be accessed via the profile button in the toolbar, although it doesn't require a child account or a profile to use. It offers options for age ranges 5-8 and 9-12 years old.

Both ranges provide the highest level of tracking protection and use Bing's SafeSearch to filter out adult content from searches, but the 9-12 range adds a news feed to the tab with curated articles from MSN for Kids that includes subjects like science, fun facts, and animals.

Microsoft includes 70 popular kids' sites in its built-in whitelist, and parents and guardians can add more sites if they choose. If a kid tries to navigate to a site outside of that allowed list, they’ll be greeted with a friendly block page, encouraging them to either ask for permission or try navigating elsewhere.

Kids Mode features customizable themes that include Disney and Pixar wallpapers, and Microsoft believes it will be a "game-changer" for parents, with children spending more time online. Kids Mode is available in the browser's latest updates for iOS and Mac.

Article Link: Microsoft Edge Gains New 'Kids Mode' for Safer Web Browsing

 

[somnolentsurfer]

Not having the time to go and test it while I should be working, is it automatically enabled for existing kids accounts? Am I going to be facing a revolt as soon as the kids log into the PC?

More importantly, can I enable that start page for standard adult accounts? It's looks much nicer than the regular one full of advertising and gossip stories!

 

[orbital~debris]

Love that start page background picture, looks very welcoming for children.

The screenshot looks to be from Windows. Does the macOS version also have the purple interface?

 

[Mthomas80]

Smart move in my opinion

 

[daabido]

Not having the time to go and test it while I should be working, is it automatically enabled for existing kids accounts? Am I going to be facing a revolt as soon as the kids log into the PC?

More importantly, can I enable that start page for standard adult accounts? It's looks much nicer than the regular one full of advertising and gossip stories!

You can change the start page to show no superflous additions. Hit the cog in the top right hand corner, click custom, turn content off and background image off too if you want.

 

[robertosh]

In the paper looks nice, but I think that web is too dangerous for kids nowadays. Even if only appropriate webs are shown, some tracking will be there and targeted ads as well. I hope that I’m wrong and Microsoft does this well.

 

[Adoniram]

This is awesome. Kids mode + ad blocker = win. Once they switched to chromium, it became a real option but now it's even better.

 

[Captain Trips]

Agree with others about the background image. I am not a kid but I like it and the purple colored theme.

 

[ELman]

This is perfect for the workplace environment.

 

[Sasparilla]

Microsoft has a history of collecting users information (and increasing that amount on Windows over time but really increasing it with Windows 10 (they seemed to decide to make Windows 10 like Android is for Google, making it a user data farming environment) - its why Windows 10 tries so hard to push new users to sign in with a Microsoft userID.

They would certainly be monitoring users, using their browser (where they go, what they do etc.). Getting your kids started using their search engine is probably not a great idea either. This isn't a good company from a privacy perspective, at all.

 

[mymacrumorsname]

Is there a child friendly search engine?

 

[Helmlein]

Microsoft includes 70 popular kids' sites in its built-in whitelist, and parents and guardians can add more sites if they choose. If a kid tries to navigate to a site outside of that allowed list, they’ll be greeted with a friendly block page, encouraging them to either ask for permission or try navigating elsewhere.

Kids Mode features customizable themes that include Disney and Pixar wallpapers, and Microsoft believes it will be a "game-changer" for parents, with children spending more time online. Kids Mode is available in the browser's latest updates for iOS and Mac.

Article Link: Microsoft Edge Gains New 'Kids Mode' for Safer Web Browsing

April 1st was two weeks ago

H.

 

[edgonzalez32]

This is awesome. Kids mode + ad blocker = win. Once they switched to chromium, it became a real option but now it's even better.

It's been a really great browser. I really notice a lot less RAM usage when compared to Chrome. Also, the collections are awesome. Didn't realize how much I'd be using it but it's been coming in handy for projects I work on, whether I'm gathering inspiration or research.

 

[Veinticinco]

Assume this for both desktop and mobile versions of the Edge browser?

Just that the link in the article above goes to an intro page that mentions iOS and Android only. When I install the macOS version on my MBA and login using my kids’ existing profile, there’s no “Kids Mode” option to enable under their profile (between “browse as guest” and “add profile”) as there should be.

Can anyone shed any light here?

 

[bluespark]

This looks great. I'm very happy to see companies increasingly focusing on taming the internet experience for children. There is still much to do in that space, so I hope Microsoft and others will keep at it.

 

[Maconplasma]

Love that start page background picture, looks very welcoming for children.

And for the adults. It’s a very cool background. Reminds me not to take life so seriously sometimes.

 

[tonyr6]

Is there a child friendly search engine?

Doubt it. Bing uses safe search like Google it is useless in blocking adult sites like, reddit and comments. It only blocks porn however Bing does a much worse job as you can get to porn sites using their image search and clicking on the site where the image is hosted.

 

[bradman83]

I really like Edge, it’s a great browser and it’s been my primary backup for websites that Safari doesn’t cooperate with. I only wish MS would tame some of non-Mac interface quirks, such as the non-standard context menus. At least with this update they finally added a Big Sur-friendly icon.

 

[lpolarityl]

Microsoft has a history of collecting users information (and increasing that amount on Windows over time but really increasing it with Windows 10 (they seemed to decide to make Windows 10 like Android is for Google, making it a user data farming environment) - its why Windows 10 tries so hard to push new users to sign in with a Microsoft userID.

They would certainly be monitoring users, using their browser (where they go, what they do etc.). Getting your kids started using their search engine is probably not a great idea either. This isn't a good company from a privacy perspective, at all.

So what is a good alternative (seriously asking) ?

I wish Duckduckgo would do something similar and also improve their search results. The only reason I don't use it as my #1 search engine is that it simply isn't as good as Google or even Bing. I primarily use Edge and Bing at work and on my personal devices I use Safari and Duckduckgo. As for my kids (both under age 11), they simply don't use a computer/tablet/iPad unattended. Microsoft providing this option is a great step forward, other companies need to do this without monetizing user data. Hey Tim... add this feature to all Apple monthly subscription services (iCloud/Apple One as a "free" feature/product!

- Basically Every Apple User Family