[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1355.3px” custom_margin=”||-391px|||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”380.3px” custom_margin=”-89px|auto|-306px|auto||” custom_padding=”53px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”69px” custom_margin=”31px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Spotify is a digital music streaming service, offering access to millions of songs, podcasts, and audio from artists all over the world. It\u2019s on-demand radio for the streaming era, with the added bonus that over time, it becomes tailored to your listening interests, suggesting music, artists, and topics you might like, while curating playlists based on your listening history. Kids and adults alike love it for its ease of use, quick access to a vast online library of audio, and its high level of customization – but Spotify is also home to some hidden risks that parents need to explore.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”380.3px” custom_margin=”-89px|auto|-306px|auto||” custom_padding=”53px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”48px” custom_margin=”||-12px|||” custom_padding=”18px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”25px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With the basic (free) version of Spotify, kids can listen to the full library of music and podcasts, but with breaks for ads, and they\u2019ll only be able to press the \u201cskip\u201d button a few times before it stops them from jumping from song to song. The free version also shuffles playlists, and you can\u2019t listen offline. Why is this important? With kids\u2019 listening in shuffle mode across a huge variety of songs, genres, and artists, <\/span>it\u2019s difficult for parents to keep track of what they\u2019re listening to<\/b>, and whether they\u2019ll be served with songs, ads or podcasts where the lyrics or content is inappropriate for their age.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Spotify does have a premium version, where parents may feel more in control: the paid subscription removes ads and skip limits, playlists are no longer shuffled, and kids can listen offline. Premium subscribers in some countries also have access to a range of audiobooks, which aren\u2019t available in the free version. However, <\/span>to manage explicit content, families have to purchase the more expensive \u201cFamily\u201d subscription<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||22px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Explicit content” open=”on” icon_color=”#36383B” toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”28px” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Long gone are the days where you could avoid songs or a whole album by vetoing any purchase with a \u201cParental advisory: Explicit content\u201d label. Through Spotify, kids have access to a huge library of music with uncensored, graphic lyrics, podcasts discussing mature themes, and sexually inappropriate content. And just like most spaces on the internet where large numbers of users can edit, upload, and interact with the content, Spotify contains adult content, which is relatively easy to find or stumble across. <\/span>Kids can find explicit album art, porn audio, and erotic podcasts<\/b> across the platform. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Risk of predation” open=”on” icon_color=”#36383B” toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”28px” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Spotify\u2019s social features, like public playlists and collaborative playlists, might leave young users open to inappropriate interactions. With people all over the world able to access Spotify, and create custom playlists, <\/span>these can be a channel for adults to contact unsuspecting children<\/b>. One UK mother reported that <\/span>a stranger had used Spotify playlists<\/span><\/a> to communicate with her 11-year-old daughter, changing the title and description of the list to encourage her to send explicit photographs by uploading them as the playlist\u2019s featured image. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Inappropriate content” open=”on” icon_color=”#36383B” toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”28px” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Beyond music, Spotify is also host to a wide variety of podcasts and audio content, which cover a range of topics – not all of them child-friendly or age appropriate. Discussions about adult relationships, substance abuse, violence, mental health challenges, and other complex subjects that aren\u2019t appropriate for every age often feature in podcast content. And, because Spotify\u2019s recommendations are driven by algorithms, <\/span>the more your child tunes in to this kind of content, the more likely they are to be served more of it<\/b> in the future.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Minimal parental controls” open=”on” icon_color=”#36383B” toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”28px” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In some countries, <\/span>Spotify offers a family-friendly version of the app<\/b>, Spotify Kids, which is tailored to younger children and offers singalongs, child-centred playlists, and custom audio based on your kid\u2019s age (0-6 or 5-12). <\/span>Unfortunately, this isn\u2019t available worldwide<\/b>, and the other option for parents of younger children, which is a Family subscription, simply filters out explicit content – kids can search and find it, but they won\u2019t be able to click on it and play the audio. Parents can also filter out artists by navigating to their profile, selecting the three small dots that appear, and choosing \u201cDon\u2019t play this artist\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”635.1px” custom_padding=”50px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2025\/03\/18094141\/2025-03-Blog_IsSpotifySafeForKids_InsideImage.png” alt=”Mother helping daughter set parental controls on Spotify music streaming on iPad” title_text=”2025-03-Blog_IsSpotifySafeForKids_InsideImage” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Depending on your child\u2019s age, there are different ways you can make Spotify safer for them to enjoy and explore. Across the age groups, it\u2019s generally a good idea – if you can – to choose a premium subscription or use Spotify Kids if it\u2019s available in your region. This will allow you to <\/span>give young kids a more age-appropriate experience, or turn on explicit content filters<\/b>. However, even if you can\u2019t do this, there are still ways you can make Spotify safer for children and teens. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][qusd_feature subtitle=”Make custom playlists” icon=”fa-solid fa-music” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#6B6B6B” module_font_size=”1px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||21px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/qusd_feature][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n An easy way to ensure your child listens to music that you\u2019re happy with is by creating playlists – which can also be turned into a family activity, where each family member curates music lists to their taste. You can add new songs over time, and there\u2019s no limit to the amount of playlists you can create. Alternatively, if you don\u2019t have time, or don\u2019t want to create your own, <\/span>you can explore the huge library of custom playlists and follow them<\/b> from your child\u2019s account.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][qusd_feature subtitle=”Follow podcasts and artists” icon=”fa-solid fa-podcast” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#6B6B6B” module_font_size=”1px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||21px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/qusd_feature][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n To help shape your child\u2019s algorithm, it\u2019s a good idea to <\/span>follow podcasts or artists that they enjoy, or that you think provide value<\/b>. Similarly, you can hide artists by selecting \u201cDon\u2019t play this artist\u201d from their profile, and adjust the algorithm by selecting \u201cNot interested\u201d on recommendations, or \u201cRemove this from my taste profile\u201d on playlists. This will help shape their feed, and give them recommendations that are more likely to align with your values, and their interests. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][qusd_feature subtitle=”Turn on explicit content filters (paid only)” icon=”fa-solid fa-filters” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#6B6B6B” module_font_size=”1px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||21px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/qusd_feature][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n To filter out explicit content, you\u2019ll need to have a premium family account. In your \u201cAccount overview\u201d section on the Spotify website, select \u201cPremium family\u201d, and then head to the name of the family member you want to manage. There should be a toggle that reads \u201cAllow explicit content\u201d. Make sure this is in the \u201coff\u201d position. <\/span>You may need to keep checking these settings<\/b>, as kids can also switch it back on.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][qusd_feature subtitle=”Monitor social sharing” icon=”fa-solid fa-share-nodes” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#6B6B6B” module_font_size=”1px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||21px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/qusd_feature][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n While it\u2019s fun to see what friends and others are listening to, and Spotify\u2019s social features can make listening a more collaborative experience, it makes sense to<\/span>\u00a0check in on their followers and block any<\/b><\/a> they aren\u2019t friends with in real life<\/b>. You can also make playlists private, making it more difficult for their profile to show up in any search results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][qusd_feature subtitle=”Set healthy limits” icon=”fa-solid fa-scale-balanced” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#6B6B6B” module_font_size=”1px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||21px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/qusd_feature][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nWhat can kids do on Spotify? <\/b><\/h2>\n
Spotify: the risks parents need to know<\/b><\/h2>\n
Making Spotify safer for kids and teens<\/b><\/h2>\n