[Desktop] Option to disable podcast video

[OmnipotentNoodl]

There have been a number of ideas discussing a way to block video as a form of parental controls, but I feel the need to throw my hat in the ring for those of us who simply want to control video streaming for ourselves.

As best as I can tell, video and audio streaming for podcasts are encoded inseparably on Spotify. This seems like an significant and unreasonable waste of bandwidth and processing power, and my desktop application suffers a noticeable lag when streaming video. I want to be able to LISTEN to podcasts, and so far the only remedy I have seen has been a suggestion to hide the video, which does not actually solve the problem, but rather pushes it under the rug. Furthermore, what if a user wants to keep the "Now Playing View" open, but without being forced to stream video? There is plenty of other useful content on that tab.

I can only imagine that this was an intentional design choice for the purposes of  video ads, yet I am not granted the ability to disable video even on my premium service.This may seem like a small issue to some, but I find this kind of waste and hostile design infuriating. Unless this is fixed, I'm thinking this may be the last straw in a long line of grievances, and I will cancel my subscription in favor of other services that give me more control over my experience.

Fwiw, I think free users should be able to disable video streaming as well.

[TheRanDiesel]

Agreed with these suggestions,maybe 50/50 on the free subscription ability, as that may seem like a feature that is common, and considered a benefit, to PAY for a subscription, much like ad free audio, ability to skip, etc. but otherwise, these are very valid, and good suggestions/ observations.

Appreciate the O/P, and the staff @Spotify 😁

[van25]

I absolutely agree and would welcome this customization.  I am currently looking for other platforms where my kids can just listen to music.  Right now it really sucks for them because I have Content Filter on.  As a parent, I am okay with whatever music they listen to, but somehow Spotify has become a gateway to **bleep**? My son listens to sleep apps but got offered audio **bleep** through asmr genre - this is all linked to explicit photos and videos that are not filtered. How did "raindrops on a roof" become "sucking c-ck by the fire"?  This is really outrageous. 

What I would like is customization of the content filter please!  Explicit music is okay.  Videos? no.  Youtube access? no.  Recommendations for sexualized versions of genres you like - Please NO!

[van25]

I found a fix!  I bought a Campfire MP3 player that streams spotify but doesn't play video! Yay - no more creepy AF ASMR portals to pornographic material for my kid.  IT's pretty outrageous I had to spend 150$ to solve this - spotify please do better.  21st century parenting sucks as it is. 

[TheRanDiesel]

Van25, Your last Sentence... Mic drop... 😂😂😂