Our Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins shares how we’re building a more positive experience for families on Spotify.
As Spotify’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, and a parent to young children myself, I understand how navigating the digital world can feel both rewarding, and at times, a little daunting. Music, podcasts, and audiobooks can spark creativity and learning in powerful ways, and they should always be experienced in a manner that feels safe, appropriate, and right for your family. That belief sits at the center of how we design and operate Spotify: protecting young listeners, while creating positive experiences.
Our latest feature is simple. Parents on the Family plan can already switch off video for users under 13, and now we’re expanding this so the controls apply to any account on the Family plan. But even more, we’re also rolling this out to all users across Free, Premium, and Basic accounts. We believe that for families who prefer a music-focused, distraction-free environment, these tools allow them to bring the experience back to Spotify’s audio-first roots.
Many parents have already turned on our Explicit Content Filter for their young users, and Family Plan managers have been able to switch off video for managed accounts—in fact, 60% of managed account users under 13 have video turned off by their parent or guardian. We know these tools matter and that people are using them, and we’re excited to continue making them available to even more users across Spotify.
This is just the newest control we’ve introduced, and it builds on our approach to safety and privacy. We know that more than 93% of Spotify users are excited about features that give them more control over their listening. And just as importantly, we know people want a service they feel good about being a part of their daily lives. To get there, we focus on a combination of clear global policies, advanced technology to combat harm, and meaningful, easy-to-use controls that support a positive experience on Spotify.
We also recognize that not all users will want to hear or see everything on our service. That’s why we’ve introduced age assurance systems that combine Spotify’s technology with that of our trusted partners. These tools help ensure that age-restricted features—whether they’re music videos for users 18 years and older or chats sharing music for users 16 years and older—are available for the appropriate audiences, while prioritizing user data privacy every step of the way.
When it comes to what’s on our platform, we have strict Platform Rules that prohibit harmful content, including content that exploits or harms children, and we enforce these rules across our service. We proactively detect and remove violating content, working with trusted partners and reporting to organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Just as importantly, we give users the ability to report content they feel doesn’t belong and to report or block users.
For all users, and especially families, we offer a range of tools designed to provide flexibility and control. Features like Explicit Content Filter, Restrict Listening Activity, Playback Settings, Exclude From Your Taste Profile, Marking Content As “Not Interested,” and the ability to turn off playback of specific artists all help parents and teens actively shape an experience that reflects their values.
Our Premium Family Plan gives parents the ability to manage individual accounts for multiple individuals in a household. Managed accounts are accounts within Family Plan which have been developed specifically for our youngest listeners (under the age of 13 and up to 18, depending on your region), offering a more protected, music-only environment with limited interactivity and built-in safeguards.
At the same time, we also know no single tool replaces ongoing conversations within families about how to use Spotify in a way that feels right to them. That’s why we also provide resources like our Parental Guide and Help Center to support informed, thoughtful decisions.
And none of this work happens in isolation. Our approach is shaped by collaboration both inside and outside Spotify. We partner with leading organizations, including the Spotify Safety Advisory Council, Thorn, WeProtect Global Alliance, the Tech Coalition, PROJECT ROCKIT, Alex Holmes, and the Internet Watch Foundation to help guide how we think about safety and privacy, especially for young users.
Our journey to ensure we’re providing a more positive experience with more controls for parents of younger listeners continues, and over the next few months you’ll see additional updates from us, including further controls for parents across all account types.
We’re grateful to be part of your family’s listening experience. And we’re committed to making sure that time on Spotify feels positive every day. We’ll keep evolving, keep listening, and keep building the tools families and young people need to feel good about the time they spend with Spotify.
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