HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION AND SIMPLE SOLUTION TO IMPLEMENT:
A Simple, Viable Solution:
Allow Family/Group Plan administrators complete control over all content types — including toggling off videos, podcasts, and non-music-related features.
Offer tiered plan options — one for pure music listening and another for users who want a mixed-media experience (with video, podcasts, etc.).
Listen to user feedback. Customers are more loyal when they feel heard and valued. This isn’t just good ethics — it’s good business.
HERE IS THE WHY IN DETAIL:
Dear Daniel Ek and Spotify Leadership,
Thank you for your time. I hope this message reaches the right people and receives the attention it urgently deserves. I’m writing not just as a longtime subscriber and software developer, but also as a business leader whose company provides Spotify as a benefit to over 45,000 employees and their families. I should also be clear, this issue has been brought up for a couple of years at least, on your "idea board" per Spotify's moderator. There is ZERO traction or response from Spotify on this issue. We, as paying customers, deserve to know what Spotify's true intentions are on this topic moving forward. Are you going to add this feature, or not?
Roughly 20% give or take are 18 and younger. That's a huge amount of your subscription base! As of March 2025, your monthly average active subscribers = 678 million people and growing! 268 million of those subscribers are Premium members!
Having said that, why in the world would you NOT provide better Premium controls!? Your company would actually grow quicker and more organically if you actually HEARD your customers! People, want features! It's absurd, and simply irresponsible and flippant not to allow parents to control the garbage that comes across TikTok like videos, you name it for their teens. You're simply adding to the problem of this already complex world.
Again, I would put big money on your company as a wager, that within a years time your company would grow organically if you provided better parental controls for parents over their teens (who literally don't have the brain development or impulse controls) who need to be "grown into adult themed content" so they choose for themselves when they do become a full grown adult. Stop being a part of the nasty cycle of "degenerates" and please consider being a solution.
1. At Its Core, Spotify Was About Music — Let’s Get Back to That
The original value of Spotify was clean, seamless music streaming. But over the years, the platform has become increasingly cluttered with features and content that many of your core users never asked for — especially autoplaying videos, TikTok-style distractions, and unfiltered podcasts. These additions are diluting the user experience, especially for family account holders who want control over content shown to their teens.
The vast majority of your customers, including myself, signed up to listen to music — not to watch crude or irrelevant video content. Suppose Spotify wishes to explore these content avenues. In that case, that’s fine — but they should be optional and manageable through account settings, particularly for group/family administrators, particularly when there are cheaper options out there now that provide the same quality of music and selections.
2. Family and Group Plan Admins Need More Control
If Spotify is offering Family or Group Plans, then it must empower the administrator to manage content exposure for all sub-users — especially teens. Currently, admins can restrict explicit lyrics, which is a good start. But the inability to disable video content, podcast access, or other distracting and sometimes inappropriate features for our teen users is both frustrating and irresponsible.
These requests have been raised repeatedly in your user forums for well over a year. The community has spoken — clearly and often.
As a former Spotify developer, I know firsthand that this feature is technically feasible. The code base and platform architecture are more than capable of supporting this. So the delay feels more like a business decision than a technical limitation — a decision prioritizing monetization over child safety and user experience.
3. The Current Experience Feels Like a Cash Grab
The shift toward video and unregulated podcast content (e.g., controversial personalities and explicit material) under the guise of premium subscription enhancements feels like a monetization strategy at the expense of families. And when there’s no way to turn it off, it sends a clear message about Spotify’s priorities.
If Spotify truly values its user base and especially its paying families, you must give us the choice to opt out of this non-musical content.
4. The Kids App Isn’t a Solution
Spotify Kids, while well-intentioned, doesn’t solve the problem. It still allows questionable content through, has a poor user interface, and isn’t designed for teens aged 14 and up. These age groups fall between the cracks: too old for “Kids” mode, but too young to navigate adult content without guidance.
5. A Fair Warning and a Clear Opportunity
If Spotify does not take action on this issue — which impacts families, youth safety, and the overall product experience — I will be forced to reconsider our enterprise agreement. As noted, my company has over 45,000 Spotify contracts currently active, which were negotiated with the understanding of value-driven service and family suitability. Legal counsel has confirmed our ability to terminate that relationship if these concerns go unresolved.
I’m also committed to publicly advocating for platforms that prioritize responsible digital experiences and transparent options for families and educators.
A Simple, Viable Solution:
Allow Family/Group Plan administrators full control over all content types — including toggling off videos, podcasts, and non-music-related features.
Offer tiered plan options — one for pure music listening and another for users who want a mixed-media experience (with video, podcasts, etc.).
Listen to user feedback. Customers are more loyal when they feel heard. This isn’t just good ethics — it’s good business.
Please let me know if Spotify has plans to implement these controls. It would take less than a day of development work to roll out basic admin-level toggles for non-music content.
The future of Spotify should be built on transparency, control, and trust. Thank you again for your time — I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Ryan
Spotify Family Plan Subscriber & Advocate for Safe Streaming and CHOICE!
