Add "remove video content" option to Spotify Family

[lentil_maps]

Please add an option to "remove video content" to Spotify Family! Since video podcasts were added, my children now watch videos on Spotify instead of listening to music.  I had given them unlimited access to Spotify (unlike other apps) because it was only used for music.  

All you'd have to do is add another toggle for "remove video content" next to "Remove explicit content".

Spotify Kids is not an option for us.  My children are teens and tweens.  And because they're teens and tweens, they have a very difficult time turning off compelling video content (just like some adults).  If Spotify becomes just another screen to stare at, I'm not sure we want to keep our Family membership.

[Dandus73]

Thanks for the hint with blocking the URLs in your router. However, this only works as long as the long as the kids are in the local Wifi. As soon as they use mobile data on their phones they are able to watch this **bleep** again 😞

[thegorgotron]

If you have a pihole you can set it up so they have to go through the piholes DNS even when on data, which would continue to block those domains. Takes a bit of work and a little knowledge of networking though. 

[Matze11]

Hey,
thx for the tip with filtering the URLS.
Regarding filtering, when the kids use the android phone with mobile data and outside the WIFI: I am currently testing https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dnsfilter.android. 
It currently looks good. I could test it successfully on my phone.
I will try out this evening on my kids phone and see if I can combine it with FamilyLink so my kids will not deactivate it and will not understand where the filter comes from ;).
I will give you an update how it worked out.. 

[Matze11]

Update

Ok it was a bit more painful than thought but it seems to work now. Here my experiences:

1. Install the app. Start it and in parallel Spotify with a Video podcast
2. Configure the app to block the 2 mentioned URLs. (You will see them in the logs and can mark and add them to the filter)
3. Check in Spotify that the video is not working any more.
4. Reboot the mobile phone and check if when starting spotify again the videos are blocked
   • For me it was a bit painful as the Xiaomi ignored the 'Restart' setting in the App and I had to manually add it to the 'Autostart-Apps' via Security-Start in Background 
5. Block the Access to the App for the Kids via Family Link:
   • Don't Block the App (this uninstalled the App)
   • But set the available Limit to 0 min 😉
6. Reboot again and test.

As mentioned it seems to work now - I will update again if it will not work out in the next days.

Again - Shame on you Spotify !!!

[Michelle771]

So glad I found this thread. I've turned off the videos on our home WiFi which is some help but I'd love if we could turn them off altogether. So much screen time. 🙁

[28stieren]

Thanks @Matze11! This workaround seems to do the trick.

[SergeantSalt]

From a developer's perspective its virtually no effort to implement a checkbox to turn off the built-in browser. So please do it before Spotify loses its appeal to parents. Users who prefer no to turn this up still can spend unlimited time watching whatever their want in the Spotify app to increase questionable success measures (time spent with spotify App instead of Youtube)...

[NefariousZhen]

It is so frustrating that my children can watch minecraft / tiktok videos uploaded to spotify as "podcasts". I don't want to restrict their access to music -- but "Look What You Made Me Do"!?

There should be an option in the family plan configuration to disable video content in the same way that we can disable explicit content.

This is a serious oversight.

[RAPSTER77]

I think that the parental controls are woefully inadequate. Not just Spotify but all media platforms. Ignoring the fact there maybe work arounds, media platforms put up no fight at all. Their terms and conditions are not 'worth the paper' they're written on. We've talked to our children about online safety and inappropriate content, they've had the talk at school. Most media platforms seem to say 'the appropriate age for your region' , "with parental permission". Experience has shown that a vast majority of children ignore all this and sign up. They access inappropriate content (this is also subjective depending on peoples culture etc.) Listen to things that can offer subliminal ideas (listen enough to the wrong things and you will start to doubt yourself). Young minds are extremely vulnerable and easily swayed. Whatever gets you worked up you should be able to limit your child's exposure. There is plenty of time for them to research when they are old enough and to form their own opinions. Parents are constantly being told to protect their children, well then, it's about time we are given the tools to help us. 

[DarkRoot]

Adding my voice here, I've been a spotify user for 10+ years, and a paying member most of that time, I will switch to Tidal and cancel my spotify family plan over this.