Spotify users were recently shocked to discover explicit content appearing in search results. A Reddit user shared a screenshot showing a pornographic video mixed in with suggested results for the rapper M.I.A, sparking concerns about how such material was able to make it onto the platform.
One of the accounts behind the videos had been posting erotic audio for years but recently started sharing sexually explicit videos, according to The Verge. Another account, with a random alphanumeric name, has been uploading explicit videos under a podcast category since mid-November. These videos, which appeared to go unmoderated, raised questions about Spotify’s content monitoring systems.
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Spotify representative Laura Batey stated that the videos in question had been removed for violating the platform’s policies, which prohibit sexually explicit material. However, she did not provide further details on how the videos managed to bypass Spotify’s moderation process.
The explicit videos discovered were likely unmoderated podcast uploads. Unfortunately, Spotify’s reporting system isn’t very user-friendly, as it lacks a simple button for flagging inappropriate content. Instead, users must copy the URL of the content and visit a webpage to file a report.
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This isn’t the first time adult content has appeared on Spotify. Other Reddit users have reported finding explicit videos in search results and even erotic audio tracks in their Discovery Weekly playlists. A 2022 Vice article also uncovered sexually explicit audio and graphic nudity in user-made playlist cover art.
While Spotify’s policies clearly ban adult content, the recent discovery of explicit material slipping through the cracks highlights the need for stronger moderation to ensure the platform remains safe and appropriate for all users.
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