USA TODAY explains how Spotify’s Managed Accounts works
Spotify just added a new feature for teens. Managed Accounts allows parents to control their kids’ playlists without messing up your year-end Wrapped.
Was “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” or Ice Spice‘s “Big Guy” at the top of your Spotify Wrapped this past year, against your will? Parents are now able to reclaim their music algorithms with Spotify’s latest update.
On July 15, Spotify launched Managed Accounts for listeners ages 7 to 13 who are interested in curating a Spotify experience but are not yet old enough to have their own accounts. Controlled by a guardian with a Spotify account, these tween-intended accounts offer only music and allow younger users to create individualized playlists. They also have access to Daylists, personalized playlists that change throughout the day dependent on a listener’s habits, and Discover Weeklys, new song roundups dropped each Monday, tailored for users. At the time of launch, podcasts and audiobooks are not available on Managed Accounts.
Managed Accounts are accessible on individual and shared devices, Spotify Principal Product Manager Barry Nevin said during a Spotify news briefing on July 13. So whether children have their own devices or share a communal tablet at home, Managed Accounts can still be created and utilized.
Managed Accounts are intended to grow with users, Nevin said during the briefing. As children get older, they may request, through Spotify, to “graduate” to an individual on a family plan, with access to more features.
How to create a Managed Account
Here’s a step-by-step guide for creating a Managed Account on the Spotify mobile app:
- Open Spotify.
- Click the profile photo in the top left corner of the screen.
- Tap “add account.”
- Click “add a child under 13.”
- Toggle on or off for “explicit content” and “videos and canvas,” short loop videos that play on Spotify.
Once created, the child will be able to input their favorite artists to start building a listening algorithm.
What safeguards are put in place for Managed Accounts?
Here’s a look at what safety and privacy protections are available for Managed Accounts, Spotify Trust and Safety Director Lauren Hall said during the July 13 briefing:
- Profiles are private and unsearchable on the platform.
- Users cannot send or receive messages.
- Only avatars can be set for profile photos, not real photos of the user.
- By default, explicit content and videos are disabled.
What type of Spotify subscription do you need to create a Managed Account?
Any Spotify user can create a Managed Account. A specific subscription is not required, Nevin said.
What is the difference between Spotify Kids and a Managed Account?
Spotify Kids is a standalone app intended for even younger listeners (ages 3 and up), offering singalongs, soundtracks and family-friendly playlists, according to the Spotify website. Spotify Kids is exclusively available with a Spotify Premium Family Plan.
Managed Accounts, on the other hand, provide a broader access to music, intended for tweens and teens. Managed Accounts are available with any Spotify plan.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
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