How to block inappropriate Spotify podcasts?

Protecting your children from inappropriate content is crucial in today’s digital world. What constitutes inappropriate content can vary depending on your family’s values, but generally includes podcasts with:

Explicit language: Profanity, vulgar terms, and offensive slang.
Hate speech: Bigotry, discrimination, and the promotion of violence against individuals or groups.
Graphic content: Violent descriptions, disturbing imagery, or sexually suggestive themes.

Spotify offers built-in parental controls and content filters. However, these may not be enough to completely safeguard your children. This guide will explore various methods to ensure inappropriate podcasts are blocked, including:

Utilizing Spotify’s own parental controls effectively.
Employing additional free parental control apps.
Considering a paid parental control app, such as mSpy or FlexiSpy, for enhanced protection.

Using Spotifys BuiltIn Parental Controls

Spotify’s built-in parental controls offer a basic level of protection against explicit content. They primarily focus on music, and their effectiveness with podcasts is limited.

Here’s how to use them:

Open Spotify: Launch the Spotify app on your device (phone, computer, etc.).
Access Settings: Locate and tap/click on your profile icon (usually in the upper right corner). Then, select ‘Settings’.
Parental Controls: Scroll down the settings menu until you find ‘Parental Controls’ and select it.
Set Explicit Content Filter: You’ll see a toggle for ‘Explicit Content’. Toggle it to ‘On’ to filter out content marked explicit. You may also be able to set a content filter level (e.g., ‘High,’ ‘Medium,’ ‘Low’). Choose the strictest setting to try to maximize blocking of potentially inappropriate content. Note: The filter effectiveness on podcasts might vary.
Set a PIN (Important!): You will be prompted to create a PIN. Keep this PIN confidential, as it’s necessary to change the settings.

Limitations:

Inconsistent Podcast Filtering: Spotify’s explicit content filter is primarily designed for music, not podcasts. It may not effectively identify and block all podcasts containing explicit language or mature themes because podcasts aren’t always consistently tagged as explicit.
No Specific Podcast Blocking: Spotify’s parental controls do not allow you to block specific podcasts. It applies a blanket filter based on explicit content tagging.
Easy Circumvention: If someone knows the PIN, they can easily disable the parental controls.

For more comprehensive parental control over podcasts and other online content, consider using a dedicated parental control app such as mSpy in addition to Spotify’s built-in features.

Feature	Can Block	Cannot Block
Spotify Parental Controls	Explicitly marked music and some podcasts	Specific podcasts; all inappropriate content in podcasts; easily bypassed with PIN

Blocking Podcasts Manually

Manually blocking inappropriate podcasts on Spotify is currently not a built-in feature. Spotify does not offer a direct “block” function for podcasts within its app. The available options mainly focus on reporting content.

To address inappropriate podcasts, you can utilize the reporting feature. Reporting alerts Spotify to potentially violating content.

Action	Mobile App	Desktop App
Locate the podcast	Open the podcast and look for the three vertical dots (…) usually located next to the episode title or podcast image.	Open the podcast and look for the three vertical dots (…) usually located next to the episode title or podcast image.
Report the podcast	Tap the three dots, then select “Report.” Follow the prompts to explain why you’re reporting it.	Click the three dots, then select “Report.” Follow the prompts to explain why you’re reporting it.
Difference between blocking and reporting	Spotify doesn’t offer a “block” option. Reporting is the closest equivalent; it flags the podcast for review by Spotify’s content moderators.	Spotify doesn’t offer a “block” option. Reporting is the closest equivalent; it flags the podcast for review by Spotify’s content moderators.

Note: Screenshots would ideally be included here showing the exact location of the three dots and the report option. However, I can’t generate images.

Utilizing ThirdParty Apps or Extensions

You can explore third-party apps or browser extensions to enhance your Spotify podcast filtering. These tools may offer more granular control than Spotify’s built-in features.

Pros:

More advanced filtering options: Potentially allow blocking based on keywords, topics, or even specific podcasters.
Centralized control: Manage restrictions across multiple devices or profiles.

Cons:

Privacy concerns: Some apps require access to your browsing or app data, which could raise privacy issues. Thoroughly check an app’s privacy policy before use.
Compatibility issues: May not always be compatible with the latest Spotify updates or operating systems.
Cost: Some apps may be paid services, requiring subscription fees.
Security risks: Using unreliable third-party apps or extensions exposes you to malware or other security risks.

Choosing Safe Options:

Research thoroughly: Read reviews, check the developer’s reputation, and look for security certifications.
Check permissions: Carefully review what permissions the app requests before installing it. Only install apps requesting necessary permissions.
Update regularly: Keep your apps updated to benefit from the latest security patches.

Examples: There are several parental control apps and browser extensions available. Research and select a reputable option that meets your specific needs and aligns with your comfort level.

Managing Podcasts for Children or Young Adults

Managing your children’s or young adults’ access to podcasts requires a multi-pronged approach. Here’s how to create a safer listening experience:

Using Spotify Family Accounts:

Spotify Family accounts allow multiple users under one plan, enabling you to create separate profiles for each child. This offers better control, as you can monitor each profile’s activity individually.
While Spotify Family itself doesn’t offer explicit podcast blocking features, you can manage what podcasts are added to each profile’s library.

Creating Separate Profiles:

Individual profiles allow for customized content restrictions. You can ensure that children only have access to age-appropriate content by choosing what podcasts are added to their library.
Regularly review and update the child’s profile to remove any unsuitable podcasts added.

Additional Safety Measures:

Open Communication: Talk to your children about safe online practices and the importance of responsible listening habits. Discuss the potential dangers of inappropriate content and encourage them to report anything concerning.
Monitoring Listening Habits: Periodically check what podcasts your children are listening to, and the amount of time spent listening. This helps you stay informed about their online activity.
Consider Paid Parental Control Apps: In addition to free methods, explore parental control apps to manage podcasts and other online content. You might consider mSpy or FlexiSpy for more advanced features and controls. Note that these are paid services.

Note: Spotify’s built-in parental controls are limited. A combination of the above strategies provides a more comprehensive approach to managing podcast access for younger users.