Parents' Guide to Google Earth

Website http://www.google.com/earth/
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Common Sense Media Review

Michelle Kitt By Michelle Kitt , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Zoom in or out, see the whole world on this virtual globe.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

 

 

See all 1 parent review
age 6+

Based on 10 kid reviews

Kids say the platform is an enjoyable and educational experience, allowing users of all ages to learn geography and explore the world virtually. Many reviewers believe the content is suitable for younger children, countering the idea that it should have a higher age restriction, and appreciate features like street view for more engaging exploration.

  • educational experience
  • suitable for all ages
  • geography learning
  • virtual exploration
  • street view feature
Summarized with AI
 

 

See all 10 kid reviews

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
Learn more about our privacy ratings

What's It About?

GOOGLE EARTH is packed solid with information. Street View provides ground-level images around towns. Layers show weather, track animals, reveal shipwrecks, and more. Let the Tour Guide show points of interest in new places, or use the historical imagery slider to see changes over time. See 3-D renderings of buildings and tree species from around the world. Use tools to draw paths and measure distance, altitude, and area. Take a guided, multimedia tour of Apollo landing sites on the Moon. Kids can even make their own tours with narration, video, and photos.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 10 ):

A good virtual tool lets you realistically explore things you'll probably never see in person, like atoms or your brain. With a mega-palette of features to probe land, sea, and space, Google Earth is without a doubt a fantastic virtual tool. Kids can view Earth, measure it, or create and share original content about it (one user shared a tour of regional dialects in the United States -- with sound). It's so much more than a map. The short tutorial videos are a must-see, and, once kids get the hang of how it works, the possibilities are endless. With multiple new versions released every year, you can trust that the program is fairly up-to-date with new bells and whistles always on the horizon.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Explore some of the controversy that surrounds Google Earth regarding rights to privacy. How do you feel about seeing your home pictured in Google Earth? Talk about GPS tracking and read our advice about how to safely use location services.

  • Discuss criticism of Google Earth as a potential threat to national security. Should Google be restricted from sharing certain information? Why or why not?

  • Some countries have blocked citizens from downloading Google Earth. What do you think about that?

Website Details

  • Subjects : Science : ecosystems and the environment , geology , Math : measurement
  • Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : analyzing evidence , collecting data , Creativity : combining knowledge , imagination , producing new content
  • Genre : Educational
  • Topics : STEM
  • Pricing structure : Free
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

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