Age-based Settings for Google

Overview

Google has notified us that they are requiring new aged-based settings for users under 18 years of age. 

Beginning September 1, 2021, users under age 18 will have a more restricted experience when using their Google Workspace for Education account (@harding.edu account).  This will include Harding Academy students as well as any University student under the age of 18.

Students will be automatically moved into the Under 18 group when their account is created (or before September 1, 2021 for the initial phase).  A person will be moved out of the Under 18 group when they reach their 18th birthday.

Broadly speaking, the restrictions are in these categories:

  • Creating online content
  • Commenting on other people's content
  • Viewing services requiring payment
  • Unrestricted search

Specifically, those under 18 will not be able to use the listed features of the following Google Services:

  • YouTube – students designated as under 18 can view YouTube content assigned by teachers, but they won’t be able to:
    • post videos, comment or live stream using their school Google account
    • Create channels, playlists, stories, shorts, or upload videos
    • Watch or create live stream events
    • See or post comments
    • Participate in live chat
    • Buy channel memberships, creator merchandise, movies and TV shows, Super Chat and Super Stickers, or participate in YouTube Giving fundraisers
    • Use apps, including YouTube Go, YouTube Music, YouTube Studio, YouTube TV, and YouTube VR
    • Access other features, including:
      • Cast on TV
      • Connect game accounts
      • Use Incognito mode
      • Get personalized ads
      • Enable or disable Restricted Mode
  • Chrome Users:
    • SafeSearch and SafeSites will be on by default
    • Guest Mode and Incognito Mode will be off by default
  • Google Play 
    • Can only see content rated Everyone, Everyone 10+, or Teen
    • Can’t purchase any Google Play content from the Apps & Games, Movies & TV, and Books categories
    • Can’t read or listen to sexually explicit books for Books on Google Play. However, users might see explicit books when searching or accessing them using a direct link to the content’s page
  • Google Maps and Google Earth 
    • Access features that require payments
    • Create public posts, such as comments and reviews
    • Participate in Local Guides
    • Turn on Location History for their Google Workspace for Education account
    • Access Google Maps Timeline
    • Share their location
  • Google Photos 
    • See prompts for paid features
    • Use partner sharing
  • Services Without On/Off Controls
    • These would include Google Chromecast and Google Surveys
  • Other Google Services
  • App Maker (currently off for HA)
  • Applied Digital Skills
  • AppSheet
  • Blogger
  • Brand Accounts (CANNOT USE)
  • Campaign Manager (currently off for HA) (CANNOT USE)
  • Chrome Web Store
  • CS First (currently off for HA)
  • Currents
  • Developer Platform (currently off for HA)
  • FeedBurner
  • Google Ad Manager (currently off for HA) (CANNOT USE)
  • Google Ads
  • Google AdSense 
  • Google Alerts
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Books
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Google Cloud Print
  • Google Custom Search
  • Google Data Studio
  • Google Domains 
  • Google Earth
  • Google Fi 
  • Google Groups
  • Google Maps
  • Google Messages 
  • Google My Business
  • Google My Maps
  • Google Pay 
  • Google Photos
  • Google Play
  • Google Play Console 
  • Google Public Data
  • Google Search Console
  • Google Takeout
  • Google Translator Toolkit
  • Google Trips
  • Google Voice
  • Individual Storage
  • Location History 
  • Managed Google Play
  • Material Gallery
  • Merchant Center 
  • Partner Dash
  • Play Books Partner Center 
  • Question Hub 

Note that the list above is subject to change.

  • Scholar Profiles
  • Search Ads 360
  • Search and Assistant
  • Socratic 
  • Studio
  • Third-Party App Backups
  • Tour Creator
  • Web and App Activity
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