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Google Just Made It Harder to Stumble Upon Porn

Dec. 13, 2012 11:55am

Have you ever searched for what you thought was an innocent term on Google and received adult images in return? Well, you that’s now less likely. Users on the popular forum Reddit have been discussing a move made by Google Wednesday that has made it harder to find pornographic images.

In the thread some Reddit users have objected to the more strict Google filter, saying “You can take away our privacy, but if you mess with porn, the Internet is going to be MAD” and “Back the porn!”

CNET explained that Google’s image search algorithm has been updated to make it more difficult to find adult photos, whether you were searching for them or not. Here’s what a Google representative told the tech website:

“We are not censoring any adult content, and want to show users exactly what they are looking for — but we aim not to show sexually-explicit results unless a user is specifically searching for them. We use algorithms to select the most relevant results for a given query. If you’re looking for adult content, you can find it without having to change the default setting — you just may need to be more explicit in your query if your search terms are potentially ambiguous. The image search settings now work the same way as in Web search.”

The Reddit commenter Seicair wrote, for example, a search for “naked redhead” resulted a pop-up that asked if the user wished for explicit images to be filtered out. Selecting “no,” the user was still able to call up the pornographic photos.

“Used to be, searching for various gem names (Opal, Ruby, Pearl, etc.,) got you a bunch of naked pictures with safesearch off,” Seicair wrote on the site. “Then they did something so that now you get gems, which you were probably looking for anyway. Now, they just want to make sure you want porn.”
Google Alters SafeSearch Algorithm and Makes Pornographic Images More Difficult to Find

Those looking for pornographic images might encounter this message from Google before their search results are returned. (Image: The Next Web)

Google’s SafeSearch was established to block adult content from search results, especially on computers used by children. Here’s how you can enable SafeSearch:
  1. Visit the Search Preferences page.
  2. In the SafeSearch Filtering section, click the checkbox to filter sexually explicit video and images from Google Search result pages, as well as results that might link to explicit content. If you choose to leave it unchecked, we will provide the most relevant results for your query and may serve explicit content when you search for it.
  3. Click Save Preferences at the bottom of the page when you’re done setting your preferences.
Learn more about Google’s feature in this video:

According to The Next Web, even with SafeSearch off, still will have a harder time finding explicit images. It notes that the pornographic results are technically returned, but SafeSearch has to be disabled first.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com. 

(H/T: GeekOSystem)

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Comments (34)

  • TeslanEdison
    Posted on December 17, 2012 at 3:16pm

    I believe that feature was already in place by yahoo, porn should be the least of our concerns, I’ve noticed that searching political, conspiracy, and other hot button topics only gives you limited results from Google, VS, Bing, to that end it seems to be filtering with an agenda. I would not be surprised if Google search results in America are used by Pentagon Psychological Ops to control the way the laziest Americans view the world. Many people don’t really understand that there are more than one search engine on the internet, or that there would be any difference between them. Google is already assisting some of the greatest human rights violating regimes. Search engines should not be politically aligned, but Google is to a great degree, keep in mind, Google at your own risk your MAC address is being recorded and they will not hesitate to disclose anything for money or political favor.

    Report this comment

    TeslanEdison  
  • OBUMAURMAMA
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:08pm

    Just turn regular cable on and you won’t miss much and you can use what’s lacking, and that’s imagination.

    Report this comment

    OBUMAURMAMA  
  • TheVolleyballGod
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 7:40pm

    Ummm.. yea.. ok Google.. ha ha ha

    Report this comment

    TheVolleyballGod  
  • BasketFullOfPuppies
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:26pm

    They weren’t real, anyway…

    Report this comment

    BasketFullOfPuppies  
  • VanceUppercut
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:05pm

    Now if you search for “girl riding a horse” you won’t have to see something truly awful. Lulz.

    Report this comment

    VanceUppercut  
    • Not Quite
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 2:22pm

      Just remember, they are not censoring. Those truly horrid pictures are still available via, “horse riding a girl”.

      Report this comment

      Not Quite  
    • Lawyer629
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 2:59pm

      LOL you searched girl riding a horse?

      Report this comment

      Lawyer629  
  • YAHSHUARULES
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:25pm

    Addiction to born is harder to kick then cocaine. Communists knew this and that is why it was part of the agenda to take the Judeo/Christian culture of America down from the inside and drive the culture in a direction designed to destroy it. Our Founders knew that only a moral people were suitable for the Republic form of Representative government – freedom without morality destroys
    https://vimeo.com/52009124
    if that is not working try this: https://vimeo.com/16647512

    YAHSHUARULES  
    • Poorfessor
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:35pm

      Not harder, easier to view porn. What frauds, I have never searched for porn, now it is available with one click.

      Report this comment

      Poorfessor  
    • glckgrl
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 5:57pm

      You’ve got that right. I know dozens of families it has affected. It is so sad because it’s the new addiction of shame, like alcoholism was before 1970′s. If you admit you are a porn addict, you are judged and shamed by much of society, even Christians who are counseled by Christ not to treat others with disdain or judgment. No wonder it is so hard for people with this addiction to heal. But recovery is possible, even though difficult.

      Report this comment

      glckgrl  
    • JMock
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 8:14pm

      This looks like an interesting film. I hadn’t heard of it before today. So thanks for the link. I will need to see the full film now. I find my eyes opening up to how drastically our culture has shifted in the last decade or so. It breaks my heart that so many good people are sinking. I for one have opened my eyes to the damage that pornography specifically has played in causing such vast destruction to the family unit and to the overall culture. And I see how it really is affecting more religious folks than those who are not. I see how as the Christian church we have failed to provide education and hope for our own people on this issue. I am working on my own film, Shamed, that addresses the deep shame created and gives hope and help for grasping a new perspective in the Christian community. Please look at our teaser and let me know your thoughts. https://vimeo.com/channels/shamed/45676200

      Report this comment

      JMock  
  • coyote1hell
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:25pm

    This is going to pizz-off a lot of Democraps……

    Report this comment

    coyote1hell  
  • MrSunshine
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:20pm

    Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

    Report this comment

    MrSunshine  
  • jackact
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:01pm

    If anyone is paying attention Google, an American corporation, also avoided over $900 million in taxes last year by moving profits into off-shore accounts.
    Where is the consternation of the (Bain Vulture Capitalist) angry mob?
    ……Oh, the election is over.

    Report this comment

    jackact  
    • Lumen
      Posted on December 13, 2012 at 1:30pm

      Google is getting out of taxes by patting president obama on the back. They have been “Excused” from it by the IRS. Its kinda a favor to them by being one of obamas largest contributors in the campaign.
      https://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cid=N00009638
      Google makes very large congributions to assist obama not just in getting elected. but in lots of other things as well.

      Report this comment

      Lumen  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:32pm

    I don’t use Google anymore and don’t search for porn. Saying that, I think Google should just offer 2 versions of their search engine. One for adults and one the adults can set up for their Children to use in their own logon profile.

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • piper60
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:30pm

    Google finally did something right.

    Report this comment

    piper60  
  • grayling646
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:28pm

    “….I, I, I don’t know, honey. I just typed in ‘cute puppies’ and this popped up”…

    Report this comment

    grayling646  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:19pm

    I imagine the perverts are really going to be pissed off now!

    Report this comment

    RightUnite  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:09pm

    What, What, WHAT are the Libertarains gonna’ use for an excuse with their wives and girlfriends now??? I, I, I just stumbled upon it…. I wasn’t searching for it ??

    Report this comment

    TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:08pm

    YA can’t google the pics any more!!!

    Report this comment

    banjarmon  
  • DougHuffman
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:02pm

    Use DuckDuckGo.com

    Report this comment

    DougHuffman  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 13, 2012 at 12:00pm

    We will see how long this lasts. Assuming it works to begin with at all…I have a hard time trusting anything of google.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  

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