Microsoft Edge quickly skyrocketed to the second-most popular desktop browser after switching to Chromium, an equivalent engine that powers Google Chrome.

Since its debut, Microsoft Edge has added many useful new features including, today, the debut of a Kids Mode with parental controls.

Microsoft Edge users on Windows and Mac OS can now use “Child Mode”, which should allow parents to allow their children under 12 to access the Internet, but in a safe way, while also making the browser accessible to everyone is useful.

This works by adding a profile for the kid with restrictions supported if they’re between 5 and eight or 8 and 12.

Both age ranges turn Edge’s settings to the very best level of tracking protection also as keeping Bing’s Safe Search at its highest filter for adult text, images, and videos.

There is also an allow list that oldsters can add sites to, and Microsoft sets 70 popular sites for youngsters thereon allow list by default.

As the Verge points out, the youngsters Mode in Microsoft Edge also disables some common keyboard shortcuts that might enable kids to urge back to normal browsing, though that only works on Windows.

Both versions of the browser would require your system credentials to modify from Kids Mode back to normal browsing.

There also are some features beyond just blocking sites. Kids Mode has custom themes, including some created with characters from Disney and Pixar films like Finding Nemo as seen below.

Microsoft calls this feature a “game changer” for folks and it’s hard to afflict that conclusion.

This is a simple and useful gizmo for folks to offer their children safe screen time, something that’s especially important because the pandemic rages on.
It’s a feature we’d like to see Google adopt in Chrome. Or, rather, it’s just the newest neat Microsoft Edge feature we’d love Chrome to adopt.

Technically, Chrome’s Google account hosted via the parent does have some limited parent controls, but it’s not as convenient and fast as Edge provides.