Google Chrome Browser – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Google Chrome Browser

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2012

72%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

The front door to the entire internet. It's fast, smart, and exactly as dangerous as you let it be.

Google Chrome Browser

app

2012

72%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

The front door to the entire internet. It's fast, smart, and exactly as dangerous as you let it be.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Chrome is the gold standard for a reason: it's fast, it syncs everything, and Google Lens is basically magic. But don't be fooled by the 'Safe Browsing' labels. Those protect you from malware and phishing, not from your kid stumbling onto a Reddit thread they shouldn't see.

If you're handing this to a kid under 13, you aren't just giving them a browser; you're giving them the keys to the city. It works best when you've already had the 'how to be your own algorithm' talk and have Google Family Link configured to manage the boundaries.

Age Fit

Technically 4+ on the App Store, but realistically 8+ for supervised research and 13+ for independent use. It's a power tool, not a toy.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a neutral utility. It doesn't model behavior or themes on its own, but it's the clean, professional standard for accessing the web.

Imaginative

As a portal to the entire internet, it is the ultimate tool for curiosity. Features like Google Lens allow kids to identify plants, translate text, and explore the physical world through a digital lens.

Safe

By default, a browser is the Wild West. While Chrome has top-tier security against hackers, it offers zero content filtering for kids unless paired with Google Family Link. Incognito mode is a permanent 'red flag' for unmanaged devices.

Enriching

It is the primary engine for modern literacy. Between research, educational web apps, and the ability to translate 130+ languages, it's the most powerful learning tool in a kid's pocket.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Google Lens is a game-changer for curious kids, letting them search the world using their camera.
Cross-device sync means their school bookmarks on the Chromebook show up on the iPad automatically.
Built-in translation turns the global web into a massive language-learning lab.
Password Manager helps teach basic digital hygiene and the importance of unique logins.

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What to Watch For

Incognito Mode is the primary way kids bypass history tracking; you can't turn it off easily on iOS without system-level restrictions.
Search Autocomplete can occasionally surface 'adult' suggestions based on global trends, even if the kid isn't looking for them.
Tab Hoarding isn't a safety risk, but it's a major 'brain rot' enabler where kids jump between 50 open loops of content.

Conversation Starters

"How does Google decide which website comes up first when you search for something?"
"If you found something weird or scary online, would you show me or just close the tab?"
"Why do you think some websites want to 'track' where you go after you leave their page?"
"What's the coolest thing you've discovered using Google Lens this week?"

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