Spotify – is the most populous streaming platform for music: with more than 670 million active users and 265 million premium subscribers as of December 2024. Featuring the largest music library and podcasts, it reallly allows users to listen to their favorite tracks on virtually any device.
The platform has literally become a staple in our everyday lives. However, you may also come across adult content on the platform. As a parent, this can be a huge problem if your children regularly use Spotify.
Luckily, the platform has parental controls for every Spotify kids account that allows you to manage what your little one can access. In this post, we take a closer look at Spotify’s parental controls to help you protect your kids.
What is Spotify?
Spotify serves as an audio streaming service provider which originated during 2006. It holds the position of being the world’s largest and most used audio streaming service and offers users an extensive collection of music and podcast content. Spotify users gain free music listening through its platform.
Users can obtain ad-free listening together with other benefits by purchasing a premium subscription plan. Besides music, plan offers:
- Audiobooks
- Radio stations
- Other content
This platform has a user-friendly interface and works seamlessly with a wide range of devices, including PC and mobile devices. And for parents, does Spotify have parental controls? Read on to learn more.
Is Spotify Safe for Kids?
One of the most common questions parents ask is, “Is Spotify appropriate for my child?” While Spotify takes the safety of users seriously, inappropriate content often finds its way onto the platform, regularly mixing with family-friendly content. Although the platform allows you to filter out adult content, your child is still likely to see it.
The platform’s algorithm is partly to blame for this, as it’s programmed to recommend content based on what the user has listened to in the past. As a result, the platform may end up recommending explicit content to kids.
For example, your child may search for podcasts about the best type of garden hoe. Algorithms on Spofit may interpret the word “hoe” as slang and recommend inappropriate content.
Luckily parental controls on Spotify can help you manage what your child accesses on the platform.
Can You Put Parental Controls On Spotify?
Spotify age requirement is 13 years and above. This means if your child is less than 13, you should not allow them to use the app.
However, there are two ways to put controls on Spotify:
- Set up Spotify Kids.
- Use third-party parental control apps.
It’s a standalone app that offers curated playlists of child-friendly music and audiobooks, protecting your child from the inappropriate content often found on the main Spotify app.
Spotify Kids account offered on the Spotify Premium Family plan and is available in various countries, including:
- United States
- Canada
- Sweden
- Ireland
- Denmark
- United Kingdom
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
We’ll discuss Spotify Kids and third-party parental control apps in detail later. We’ll also show you how to make Spotify kid-friendly.
How to Set Up Spotify Kids?
Setting up a Spotify child account is a pretty simple process. You don’t need any technical knowledge. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Log into your Premium Family Membership account.
- Find Grown Ups under Settings.
- Type your PIN and create an avatar for your kid.
- Select the right age category for your kid.
Parentaler – Alternative Parental Control Option on Spotify
Using parent controls Spotify alone is not enough. The platform relies on users to customize their listening experience. You can block explicit content, but this option cannot be restricted. If you want to genuinely protect your child from inappropriate content, you need a more effective method, such as using Parentaler, an advanced monitoring app. This one gives you a detailed overview of what your child is listening to.
Parentaler is compatible with Android and iOS devices and operates in the background without notifying your child. This allows you to track and control your child’s activities on Spotify without them knowing.
Follow these steps to set up Parentaler:
- Visit Parentaler’s website and click Try Now.
- Select device you want to monitor (Android or iOS) and follow the steps to create a plan that suits your needs.
- Choose a subscription plan and pay. You’ll receive download link in your email.
- Install the app and start monitoring and regulating your child’s Spotify.
Parentaler vs. Spotify Kids
While Spotify Kids is a great app designed to provide kid-friendly content, it has flaws. In this section, we compare Parentaler and Spotify:
| Parentaler | Spotify Kids | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | • Discrete monitoring • User-friendly • Detailed tracking • Manage multiple platforms • GPS location tracking | • Curated for kids • No ads |
| Cons | • Pricey plans | • Very expensive • No offline listening • Limited audio library • Requires separate app |
From the table, Parentaler has a clear advantage over Spotify Kids as it gives you better control of your child’s Spotify account. The app provides a comprehensive monitor, which allows you to view and block inappropriate content on your child’s Spotify account.
While Spotify Kids offers content curated for kids, it does not offer other features available on its main platform, such as offline listening. Its audio library is also limited. So, if you’ve been wondering, “is Spotify appropriate for my kid”? Parentaler can help you monitor and block unwanted content.
FAQ
Yes, Spotify is appropriate for your child if you download the Spotify Kids app, which is offered on the Spotify Premium Family plan.
Yes. You can control what your child is listening to on Spotify by getting the Spotify Kids app. The app contains kid-friendly content and allows you to block inappropriate content.
The Spotify age limit is 13 years and above. Kids under 13 can use the Spotify Kids app.
Conclusion
So, Spotify is the most popular audio streaming service provider. However, it may contain inappropriate content that may affect your child mentally. Luckily, parents can protect their kids from such content by utilizing Spotify’s parental controls.
While Spotify parental controls iPhone and Android are great, using a Spy app such as Parentaler is a more effective way to control what your child can listen to on the platform.
