YouTube announced today that it has added a new "Safety Mode" option to its site. The new feature is targeted at users who want more control over the videos that are called up during searches and browsing, according to Google's official blog.
Like any other filter, Safety Mode won't be perfect, but will help sift out objectionable content -- such as war footage or political protests -- that might not otherwise violate Community Guidelines. Parents looking for more control over what their children watch can opt in and lock filtering preferences with a password.
In fact, Safety Mode encompasses several new filtering features. If a user wants to type in "naked," for example, with Safety Mode on, they will generate no results. If you're watching a video, all comments are hidden by default. If a user chooses to view them, any objectionable words will be replaced with asterisks. Also, clips filed under Popular, Most Watched or Videos Being Watched Now will be hidden if objectionable. Finally, if a friend sends a video that's less than suitable, it won't be accessible until Safety Mode is turned off. You can find a detailed overview of Safety Mode here.
According to Google, Safety Mode will be rolled out to users throughout the day today.