Kagi for Kids

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Kagi for Kids Features & Quick Answers

  • Question about disabling “Quick Answer” for kids; others note it can be toggled in Parental Controls.
  • Some find the “always check this with an adult” disclaimer both sensible and slightly naive about adult critical thinking.

Safety Claims vs Reality

  • The marketing phrase “ensure children are not exposed to harmful content” is widely seen as overpromising.
  • Commenters stress that any search engine can only reduce, not eliminate, risk: “safe for whom, and at what age?” remains ambiguous.
  • Even with strong filters, mainstream sites (Reddit, Wikipedia, etc.) can place disturbing or inappropriate material one click away.

Definitions of “Bad Content” and Guarantees

  • Long subthread argues there can be no guarantee because:
    • People disagree on what counts as “bad” (violence, sex, politics, religion, consumerism, etc.).
    • Malicious or fringe content can appear on otherwise “good” domains.
  • General consensus: Kagi (or any provider) can aim for “better, not perfect,” but parents must still monitor and review.

YouTube Kids, Video Platforms, and Alternatives

  • Many see YouTube/YouTube Kids as the main problem space, not search itself.
  • Experiences range from “works fairly well when tightly configured and supervised” to “filled with garbage and stealth advertising.”
  • Some describe drastic measures (Pi-hole blocking all of YouTube) after kids encountered intense religious or commercial content.
  • Tactics mentioned:
    • Using YT Kids in whitelisted mode (a hidden setup flow, often via linked parent account).
    • Curating personal libraries with Jellyfin/Plex, NAS, yt-dlp/TubeArchivist, Peertube, or sites like “The Kid Should See This.”
    • Preferring PBS-like or Disney-style curated ecosystems; Amazon Kids+ is noted as a closed, moderated option.

Curation, Parenting, and Screen-Time Philosophy

  • Strong theme: no software replaces active parenting and curation.
  • Suggestions: limit devices, co-watch, encourage offline hobbies, and teach kids that meaningful activities feel like “work,” not constant entertainment.
  • Several worry more about “dopamine-optimized brainrot,” algorithmic radicalization, and endless scrolling than about classic porn/gore risks.

Trust in Tools and Miscellany

  • Some enthusiasm for Kagi and tools like NextDNS/ControlD; they’re seen as useful layers, not total solutions.
  • A few want social/shared curation features between parents and schools.
  • Lighthearted notes about the poop avatar and copywriting (confusion over “two group plans”) add some skepticism about positioning and tone.