New Google tool helping kids and teens: Talking Tech podcast
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Hey there listeners, it's Brett Molina. Welcome back to Talking Tech. Google has rolled out a new tool that will make it easier for kids and teens to scrub images of themselves off of search results. According to a recent blog post that Google published, this move was made to help minors have greater control over their digital foot print. So here's how it works. Google's policy says that users must submit image URLs, so basically links directly to the images that feature "an identifiable individual" under the age of 18. Google also suggests adding search query terms that pull up those images so they have a better sense of where those links are coming from. The removal request must be made by the person in the images or a minor's parent or legal guardian. It also facilitates the removal of images of minors who died before the age of 18.
This process starts by submitting a form. You send in all the appropriate links that they need. And then once a request is made, you'll get an email from them, confirming that they have it. Once they review the request, they may reach out to you for more information, and then they'll notify you of how they go forward in removing or not removing this information. Because Google's tool only addresses search results, the company tells folks contact the webmaster of any sites that contain these images as well so that they can purge them from their site too. So something to think about if you are under 18, or if you have someone in your home that is under 18 and they are looking to get images of themselves scrubbed off of search results on Google.
Listeners, let's hear from you. Do you have any comments, questions, or show ideas, any tech problems you want us to try to address? You can find me on Twitter at brettmolina23. Please don't forget to subscribe and rate us or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, anywhere you get your podcasts. And one more thing. Want tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to the Talking Tech newsletter, newsletters.usatoday.com. A new Talking Tech comes out every Thursday. You've been listening to Talking Tech. We'll be back tomorrow with another quick hit from the world of tech.