Spotify has expanded its managed accounts feature, previously exclusive to Premium Family subscribers, to include users on its free, ad-supported tier. This change allows parents and guardians to create dedicated accounts for children under 13, providing a tailored and controlled music experience without the need for a paid subscription.
Managed accounts offer several features designed to ensure a safe and appropriate listening environment for young users. Parents can filter explicit content, block specific artists or songs, and disable videos and visual content by default. Additionally, these accounts are private and unsearchable, use avatars instead of profile photos, and do not support messaging, enhancing privacy and security.
Young listeners with managed accounts can create their own playlists and receive personalized music recommendations through features like Daylist and Discover Weekly. They will also receive their own Spotify Wrapped summary at the end of each year, separate from their parents’ listening statistics. However, managed accounts are limited to music content only, excluding access to podcasts and audiobooks.
To set up a managed account, parents can navigate to the ‘Settings and privacy’ section in the Spotify app, select ‘Parental controls,’ and follow the prompts to create a new account for their child. This process includes setting a PIN to prevent unauthorized access to parental controls and adjusting content filters as desired. Once established, parents can modify these settings at any time through their own account settings.
Initially, the expansion of managed accounts to the free tier is available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Spotify plans to roll out this feature to additional countries across Europe, Latin America, and beyond in the near future.
By extending managed accounts to free users, Spotify aims to provide more families with the tools to create a safe and personalized music experience for their children. This move reflects the company’s commitment to catering to the diverse needs of its user base and enhancing the overall listening experience for young audiences.
