Spotify has rolled out its managed accounts feature to additional countries, a shared account feature that allows parents to control what their children listen to, available to users in more countries. They include the U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the U.S.

In addition to New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, the function has been accessible since its testing period began last year.

Managed accounts are for kids under the age of thirteen and are part of Spotify’s Premium Family package. The feature allows parents to create a separate account for their child that is only for music.

This would stop a child’s musical preferences from affecting the parent’s recommendations or showing up in the parent’s yearly Spotify Wrapped report. With managed accounts, kids can make playlists, add songs to their favourites, and get tailored suggestions without compromising the accounts of other family members.

The broader rollout coincides with heightened online safety monitoring for kids. Regulators and parents worldwide have voiced their displeasure over exposing minors to explicit content and interactions on streaming services and social media.

With the launch of Spotify, leading tech companies are stepping up their efforts to give parents more control over what their children can access online.

How managed accounts give parents control

Managed Accounts allow parents to limit children’s access to content within the Spotify app. Parents can restrict access to videos, block explicit content, prevent certain songs or artists from playing, and restrict interactive features like messages.

While letting kids experiment with music on their own, these boundaries also help parents better understand their kids’ listening habits.

To create a managed account, a family plan account holder must visit their account page on the Spotify app, tap “Add a Member,” then “Add a listener under 13” (or the regional equivalent).

After that, parents are given instructions on how to set up limits on content, interactions, and personalised suggestions. Since these are separate from the main family account, parents retain control over exposure and safety while children have their own area to listen to music.

This system provides an alternative to the more restrictive Spotify Kids application. Managed accounts allow kids to engage with the system in a less limiting way, within parameters set by their parents. This permits kids to listen to music and playlists safely without being exposed to content geared toward adult listeners.

Why the update is important to families and Spotify

The most recent implementation of managed accounts is important to families because it gives parents good control over their child’s listening environment.

Parents can select which songs, artists, or types of content are accessible to their children and block songs with explicit lyrics or other content that’s not suitable. At the same time, children can still find new music, create playlists, and have a customised listening experience.

Families can create managed accounts in a few weeks, with the update also establishing Spotify as a family-friendly service while responding to higher expectations among parents and regulators for children’s online safety.

With managed accounts, Spotify aims to strike a balance between the control of parents and kids’ independence to discover music. It allows families to benefit from the worth of the Spotify service without having to give up safety or personalization.

Read also: Spotify now lets 433m free users pick and play any songs, just like premium users

By giving parents detailed controls, the company provides a real-world answer for families with child users so that kids can listen to music responsibly and securely.

The expansion also reflects a wider movement in technology. The platforms within the sector are introducing tools for parents to manage their children’s internet experience. This follows grumblings that children may sometimes be exposed to improper content or handle features meant for adult usage.

Managed accounts from Spotify helps families sort out these problems in a way that keeps the service engaging and accessible to children.

Overall, Managed accounts are an essential step towards making Spotify safer and more easy for young users. Managed accounts provide children with access to a music experience tailored to their age, while parents maintain ultimate control.

The move reinforces Spotify’s continuous commitment to responsible platform management and internet security for families all across the world.