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AIBU?

To expect Spotify to have a 'child friendly' button/stream

54 replies

Jjcrackers · 10/02/2016 10:02

I have just signed up to Spotify Premium through Vodafone.

I had a bit of a shock this morning when DS (7) put on the charts only to hear two songs back to back with swearing. (One being the new Zayn Malik...don't get me started).

AIBU to expect them to either censor something as mainstream as the charts OR provide a 'kids friendly' option?

Or am I missing a trick and there is a setting that I can't find?

Sorry if this sounds all a bit Mary Whitehouse - I'm just annoyed that we won't be able to play this when the DC are around...

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VagueIdeas · 10/02/2016 10:04

It's been a while since I used Spotify, but don't songs with swearing have an EXPLICIT icon next to them?

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PaulAnkaTheDog · 10/02/2016 10:09

Explicit is right beside the song title.

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Jjcrackers · 10/02/2016 10:16

but EXPLICIT isn't by the 'stream' (apologies for my luddite terminology...new to this). So, you when you select UK top 50 or the likes there is no warning that the songs will be Explicit.

Then, do you have to hover over each song when it comes up just to check that it doesn't have EXPLICIT? Surely there must be a better way of filtering out these songs?

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PaulAnkaTheDog · 10/02/2016 10:18

There is. Make a playlist.

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AppleSetsSail · 10/02/2016 10:38

Maybe their audience doesn't particularly like child-friendly.

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 10/02/2016 10:45

Yanbu. An option to choose child friendly or similar in settings would be hugely helpful and wouldn't impact on other users at all.

The fact there isn't this option is one reason I haven't upgraded to premium and just use the free version on my phone. I'd like to use premium and stream via my sound bar and/or smart TV/car stereo but I'm not until there's an option to avoid explicit lyrics. I expect Spotify would like my money too.

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bluebiro · 10/02/2016 11:26

YANBU. I would like this too.

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wigglesrock · 10/02/2016 11:30

Make a playlist - my kids do. You can also get child friendly versions of songs on Spotify - they're done as covers. My kids listen to a version of Taylor Swift songs - they remove all reference to sex etc from the song - it's bizarre but I'm sure they're are similar versions for different songs.

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 10/02/2016 11:35

Who can be arsed making a playlist when there are ready made streams? It's a paid service that already indicates which songs are explicit so it should not be beyond the wit of Spotify to make it an option.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who isn't upgrading to the paid service because of this - so it's in Spotify's interest to offer this option.

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JacquesHammer · 10/02/2016 11:46

It isn't marketed at children.

If you want to have some child friendly playlists, then make them. It takes 5 minutes to bung 20 songs into a playlist.

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HermioneJeanGranger · 10/02/2016 11:48

There are kids playlists - just search them.

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 10/02/2016 11:51

No but it's marketed at people. A large proportion of whom will have children and not want to have to listen in isolation. Some people will also not want to listen to explicit lyrics for other reasons.

Making it an option in settings would not stop anyone from using the service as they currently do but it would make it easier for a proportion of people.

It also makes commercial sense as mentioned up thread.

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Jjcrackers · 10/02/2016 13:31

I hadn't thought of making a playlist and that does makes sense but it is a shame as it limits me to the songs I know and like.

Re the marketing - it is currently being marketed through my vodafone contract which suggests they are trying to expand their reach beyond 'musos'.

I am signed up for a trial. My decision to sign up going forward will depend on how much of a faff it is to having to make playlists rather than listen to theirs.

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Marniasmum · 10/02/2016 13:37

Why does everything have to be child-friendly?

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omri · 10/02/2016 13:40

There's a kids "mood" if you browse down to the bottom. And pop and party music in that geared for 10 year olds I'd say

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ZiggyFartdust · 10/02/2016 13:41

I find this (very common) attitude depressing. Every little thing is expected to be child friendly, set up for you, pre-loaded, pre-screened.

How about you just don't let your kid use spotify if you don't want them to hear some of the songs on spotify? Or set up playlists that they can use? Or, you know, work it out for yourself whatever way would work for you and your family, and not expect it to be handed to you on a plate?

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icklekid · 10/02/2016 13:44

But I'm an adult who doesn't enjoy expletive language and would prefer this option. Yes I could make my own play lists but half the point is discovering new music which I then wouldn't be able to do.

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wonkylegs · 10/02/2016 13:45

We've had it for ages and we've always done playlists for DS - it helps because as well as not having swearing in them I can make sure songs are actually suitable (there are lots with dubious content but no actual swearing). It's dead quick to do and easy.
So the function is there if you need it, just not in the way you expected.
I still listen to the rest of the service when the kids are not around or listen to sections I know are going to be fine (jazz, classical, soul radio) or albums I know are fine or playlists when they are around.

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ZiggyFartdust · 10/02/2016 13:48

Oh look, an app to filter explicit songs on Spotify: github.com/jacobSingh/bleep

3 whole seconds of googling.

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 10/02/2016 13:56

But what about those of us who don't want child friendly or music for 10 year olds? What about those who want music for us but that won't have the dc saying "muthafuka" at toddler group because they've been around adults listening to music they like?

This is not a niche request. My iPhone has a setting to filter out inappropriate content and that's not a product for children.

I don't understand the attitude of "I like it as is so don't change it" when the suggested change will make no difference to those people what so ever.

I'm not averse to a bit of swearing but I can see how a non-explicit filter might be a useful option for people who do object to it.

Also parents like me want to listen to music we like and use the option to select a type of music (and so hear new music/discover new favourites). It also means that when the dc are not around you can turn off the filter and enjoy all the lovely sweariness Grin

Putting that filter option on will not stop anyone from using Spotify as they currently do but not putting it on will mean some people who would pay for the premium service will not use it.

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bluebiro · 10/02/2016 13:56

Why don't they just make the "radio edit" of songs available on Spotify as well as the versions with swearing? I know there is kids' music available, but I want to listen to specific songs, just without the swearing. I don't think this is a crazy request!

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 10/02/2016 13:59

Yes exactly bluebiro.

I can't get my head around why this is such an outrageous suggestion Hmm

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bluebiro · 10/02/2016 13:59

MovingOnUp exactly!

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eternalopt · 10/02/2016 14:03

YANBU. An option to turn on some filtering so that only the radio edits of the songs are played. I've been caught out before playing a song that son had heard on radio and liked and discovering new lyrics on the full version!

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eternalopt · 21/02/2016 21:12

Back to this, having discovered with my son in the car that the explicit warning is unreliable too, as not all songs with swearing are flagged, I've been in touch with spotify and suggested this. Got a "thanks for the feedback - we'll pass it to our developers" response. I'm not holding my breath, but maybe if more people did the same?...

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