Request for Sensitivity in Content Recommendations for Ukrainian Users

[a_user_from_ua]

Dear Spotify,

I am writing to address a concern that has significant cultural and emotional implications for many of your users, particularly in Ukraine. As you are aware, the ongoing imperialistic russian war in Ukraine, has had profound and painful effects on the lives of millions of Ukrainians. The war, marked by severe trauma, loss, and displacement, has deeply impacted the Ukrainian people's relationship with Russian language and culture.

In this context, a lot of Ukrainian users of Spotify have reported the platform's algorithm frequently recommending Russian content. This includes users who have not previously engaged with such content or have actively avoided it. For many, the Russian language has become inextricably linked to the suffering and anguish caused by the russians. Consequently, encountering Russian content on a platform intended for entertainment and relaxation can be distressing and triggering.

While I recognize Spotify's commitment to offering a diverse range of content to its global audience, I believe it is crucial to consider the unique and sensitive situation faced by Ukrainian users. To address this, I propose the following solutions:

1. Opt-Out Feature for Specific Content: Implement a feature allowing users to opt out of content from specific languages or regions. This will enable Ukrainian users to avoid Russian content and create a more comfortable and personalized listening experience.

2. Sensitive Content Recommendations: Enhance the recommendation algorithm to be more sensitive to the geopolitical context. This could involve reducing the frequency of Russian content suggested to users in Ukraine or those who have a history of engaging with Ukrainian content.

3. User Feedback Integration: Incorporate user feedback mechanisms to understand and adapt to individual preferences, especially in regions experiencing conflict or tension.

I understand that music and podcasts are universal languages that transcend borders and conflicts. However, in times of turmoil and strife, the cultural and linguistic nuances become more pronounced and carry a deeper significance. My request is not about limiting cultural exchange but about providing a safe and considerate listening environment for all your users, respecting their emotional and cultural contexts.

I hope Spotify will consider this request seriously and take steps to ensure its platform remains a source of comfort and enjoyment for everyone, regardless of their geopolitical situation.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

UPD

To everyone who’s commented along the lines of, “You can’t expect Spotify to get rid of an entire language of music just because it offends you. With that logic, they should remove every language that has caused harm to anyone”: please read the post carefully.

We are simply asking for an option that allows users to configure languages they prefer not to hear. This does not mean we are asking Spotify to remove that content from the platform altogether.

[vvaidz]

!! PLEASE, SPOTIFY. I freaking' love the new *daylist* feature, but F*S it's full of russian rap artsists because I listen to Lithuanian rap. I tried "hiding" songs in Discover Weekly, thinking the algorithm would understand that I hide russian songs, but after a few weeks of trying, I just lost hope. Please add a switch or anything so I can hide those terrorists from my feed....

[Vadymmykh]

Yes! It bugs me Spotify continues to recommend me those kind of songs I don’t listen to. But it goes on and on and on.

[fintux]

This is not about xenophobia, but about not funding the russian war machine even indirectly. I simply want to boycott all russian exports, including music. Spotify will send some of the money to the artists, obviously, so to boycott, I don't want to listen to them. Unfortunately, as a listener, it is not always easy to recognize which artists are from which country, but Spotify should have that information relatively easily available. And I want some variation to the music, so I use the automatic playlists.

[Lord_Shadow]

I completely agree with this post! I have the same problem on Spotify — russian artists keep popping up everywhere. I don’t have a single Russian artist saved in my library, but maybe I missed some, since some hide their origins.

Furthermore, I really want to see this feature implemented because no matter how many artists I block, Spotify still includes music from the country of the aggressor in “Discover Weekly” and other auto-generated playlists. This has been going on for over a year now 😢

[booodyk]

I've been using Youtube Music for a month now, got a lot of good recommendations, and 0 russian music. Good bye Spotify, I'm canceling my subscription now. You guys had enough time to do your homework, and we were not asking too much for sure.

[agent_sm1th]

I've manually gone through my library to remove content from certain regions that I personally prefer not to listen to.

While my radios and mixes now reflect my preferences, Discover Weekly still recommends several russian songs each week.

Right now, I only open that playlist to mark "Don't play this artist" whenever I come across those suggestions. It would be great to have a way to filter recommendations by country or language to streamline this process.

[AndronUA]

This is a must-have feature, Spotify. Please add it.
I'm tired of blocking or switching from suggestions.