Spotify moderation features in question as users see porn in search results

[Lauren]

SPOTIFY IS FACING BACKLASH FOR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT ALLEGEDLY SHOWING UP IN SEARCH RESULTS.

“THE VERGE” FIRST REPORTED SUNDAY THAT A REDDIT USER SHARED A SCREENSHOT OF A PORNOGRAPHY VIDEO…THEY SAY APPEARED AFTER LOOKING UP THE ARTIST M-I-A.

SEVERAL OTHER SPOTIFY USERS ON THE REDDIT THREAD SAY THEY SAW IT TOO OR SOMETHING SIMILAR … ALSO MENTIONING EROTIC AUDIO TRACKS ENDING UP ON PLAYLISTS. 

THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE STREAMING SERVICE SAYS THE CONTENT MENTIONED HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A VIOLATION OF ITS POLICIES.

THESE INCIDENTS RAISE THE QUESTION OF HOW EXPLICIT CONTENT GETS PAST THE PLATFORM’S CONTENT-BLOCKING SETTINGS. 

WHILE SPOTIFY HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THE SPECIFICS OF CONTENT MODERATION – MASHABLE NOTES THE COMPANY DOESN’T POLICE PODCASTS BEFORE THEY’RE UPLOADED WHICH MAY EXPLAIN HOW THE EXPLICIT CONTENT IS SLIPPING THROUGH.

[L3: Spotify looks to increase video views with new features]

THIS SITUATION COMES AS SPOTIFY LOOKS TO INVEST IN MORE VIDEO FEATURES … WITH THE DEMAND FOR VISUALS GROWING – ESPECIALLY WITH PODCASTS.

EDISON RESEARCH FOUND ABOUT 84 PERCENT OF MONTHLY PODCAST LISTENERS CONSUME PODCASTS WITH VIDEO – AND ABOUT 71 PERCENT ACTIVELY WATCH THE PODCAST WHILE LISTENING. 

SPOTIFY REPORTED A 140 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VIDEO PODCASTS IN ITS TOP 50 U-S PODCASTS LIST IN 20-24 COMPARED TO 20-23. 

SPOTIFY’S TOP TWO PODCASTS … “THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE” AND CALL HER DADDY” BOTH INCLUDE VIDEO … WITH THE PLATFORM NOW HOSTING MORE THAN 300-THOUSAND VIDEO PODCAST SHOWS.

IT’S ALSO LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE POPULARITY OF AUDIO BOOKS BY ADDING VIDEO FEATURES. 

AUTHORS NOW HAVE AN OPTION TO SUBMIT A SHORT VIDEO FOR THEIR AUDIOBOOKS INCLUDING INTERVIEWS OR BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE FROM THE AUDIO RECORDING. 

THERE’S ALSO A “FOLLOW ALONG” FEATURE FOUND IN THE “EXTRAS” SECTION THAT MAKES USERS FEEL LIKE THEY’RE FLIPPING THROUGH A BOOK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, PHOTOS AND GRAPHICS

SPOTIFY REMAINS THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR STREAMING SERVICE WITH OVER 620 MILLION MONTHLY USERS AND MORE THAN 250 MILLION PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS. 

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR… FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.