Introduction
This blog explains why and how to block students from using Google Lens Search. Google Lens allows users to search the web using images instead of text, which makes it easy to find information just by scanning pictures. While this feature is useful in many scenarios, however in K–12 classrooms it can lead to academic distraction and misuse. Students may escape the learning by scanning homework questions for instant answers or using Lens to access unrelated or inappropriate content. Teachers and administrators find it a challenging task to keep students focused on studies. To maintain academic integrity and keep students busy in learning, it is very important to block Google Lens Search in educational environments.
What is Google Lens Search?
Google Lens Search is a feature from Google that lets you search the web using images instead of text. Instead of typing keywords into Google Search, you can use Google Lens to upload or point your camera at an image and Lens will analyze the picture with AI/ML and show relevant results.
Why to Disable Google Lens Search for Students?
Disabling Google Lens Search feature for school students is important because it allows students to focus on critical thinking, research skills and independent learning. Google Lens can quickly identify objects, extract text and provide information from images, which can make students lazy and stop putting effort into their research task.
Therefore in K-12 classrooms, this creates challenges for teachers who need to assess genuine learning, evaluate students’ understanding and provide feedback based on each student's own work. Blocking Google Lens Search helps students to search for their answers, understand and analyze the solution and then apply it to the final research.
How to Block Google Lens Search Feature Using Google Admin Console
Google Lens Search is be triggered when users access search results with the ?udm=26 parameter in the URL. This parameter is used by Google to enable the Lens visual search feature. By blocking URLs that contain this parameter, you can prevent students from using Google Lens Search and only allow text-based Google Search.
Steps to Block Google Lens Search via URL Blocking in Google Admin Console
- Sign into Google Admin Console with your admin credentials.
- Go to Google Admin > Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > URL blocking.
- On the left pane Organizational units, select the student OU.
- In Configuration > Blocked URLs, enter https://www.google.com/search?udm=26.
- Click Save.
- Wait for few minutes for the changes to appear within the students’ devices.
- Then, once the changes are applied, click on Google Lens and upload an image to search.
- The search page will be opened with the blocked message.
Understanding UDM and the Significance of 26 in Chrome Policy Management
When managing Chrome OS devices and browsers in an educational or enterprise environment, IT administrators often come across terms like UDM and 26, especially when working with policies and extensions in the Google Admin Console.
Specifically, UDM in Google Search refers to Unified Delivery Mode, a parameter that controls how search results are displayed. The value 26 is specifically used to trigger Google Lens Search that allows users to perform visual searches using images instead of text.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, blocking Google Lens Search helps to maintain a focused classroom environment for students to learn valuable skills on their own. It ensures that students complete their tasks without any shortcuts. By restricting the Google Lens Search feature, teachers can set up an ideal learning environment. This restriction ensures students are not reliable on shortcuts provided by visual search features.
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