Spotify rolls out controls to keep kids music out of your algorithm

Spotify is expanding shared account features that make it easier for parents to control what their kids listen to. Managed accounts are now launching for Premium Family subscribers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and the Netherlands following a pilot that kicked off last year, allowing account holders to manage a separate music-only experience for children under the age of 13.

Managed accounts give parents the ability to filter out explicit content, block specific songs and artists, and hide the videos that sometimes play alongside tracks on the streaming service. Spotify says that interactivity features are limited on managed accounts, and that age-gated features like the ability to message other Spotify users are blocked entirely. This is distinct from the dedicated Spotify Kids app, because managed accounts enable parents to curate what their children can listen to in the main Spotify app.

Kids are free to add songs to favorites, create playlists, and receive their own personalized recommendations based on their listening habits, without influencing the main account holders’ listening history or algorithm. That separation means parents won’t find their Discover playlists or Wrapped results being ruined because their child has been blasting the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack on repeat.

Managed accounts are exclusively available via Spotify’s Premium Family plan, which includes six individual Premium accounts for members who reside at the same address for $19.99 per month. Family Plan holders can create a managed account by clicking the “Add a Member” option on their account page, and then selecting “Add a listener aged under 13 (or local market equivalent).”