Microsoft is launching a new program called “Bing For Schools” which offers a tailored Bing search experience by removing the advertisements, and offering enhanced privacy and filtering of search results. Schools will have the choice to join this program as it is strictly voluntary.
“Today, we’re announcing a new initiative to give one context in particular a special treatment: we’re helping our nation’s schools to teach digital literacy skills. Starting later this year, Bing For Schools will offer schools in the U.S. the option to tailor the Bing experience for K-12 students by removing all advertisements from search results, enhancing privacy protections and the filtering of adult content, and adding specialized learning features to enhance digital literacy,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post.
Bing For Schools is free for any school or district that wants to participate and the program allows for Bing to be the search engine across the school’s network, without the need for special software or a different search address. Some of the features include the ability to automatically filter out adult content by defaulting to the SafeSearch strict setting.
Microsoft has a “strong belief” that schools are for learning and not selling, therefore the advertisements will be removed as part of the deal. Microsoft is still working on this program and more information as well as registration can be found at http://www.bing.com/schools
