Spotify Empowers Users to Choose Their App Experience

Spotify is introducing new controls that allow users to disable all videos in the app, the company announced on Thursday. This move is a significant step towards giving users more control over their app experience, as the company acknowledges that not everyone wants to engage with videos.

Video Controls: A Major Upgrade for Spotify Users

The new controls can be used to choose an audio-first experience on the app or a video-enhanced one, Spotify says. This means users can opt out of video content altogether, which is a significant upgrade for those who just want to focus on music.

• The controls can be accessed directly from the subscription settings, making it easy for users to manage their video preferences.
• Spotify notes that 60% of users under 13 had their video shut off by the account manager (a parent or guardian), indicating that this feature was already being used to protect younger users.
• The company will also allow Premium and Basic users across Individual, Duo, Family, and Student plans, as well as users on its free service, to control how video content appears in their app.

"Listeners can now choose exactly how they want to engage with the videos that amplify music, podcasts, and audiobooks on Spotify," the company wrote in a blog post. "Control changes everything. Time stops feeling wasted and starts feeling owned."

What This Means for Spotify Users

By giving users the option to turn off videos on the app, Spotify is likely looking to appease regulators and lawmakers who have a close eye on social and video apps' impacts on younger users. Those who just want their music app to focus on music will also benefit from this feature.

Spotify has increasingly embraced video over the past few years, first launching its Canvas videos in 2018 and rolling out video podcasts in 2020. The company added support for music videos in 2024 to better compete with YouTube.

By giving users the option to turn off videos, Spotify is acknowledging that not everyone wants to engage with video content. This move is a significant step towards giving users more control over their app experience.