Inappropriate Podcast Suggestions

[chengyingjia]

I was shocked when I opened the app today. On the homepage it has the section for podcast suggestions, which I had been tolerating for years. But today, it is suggesting ADULT podcasts to me!!!

This will be my LAST month using Spotify, which is a company that does NOT listen or show respect to its premium users. When you search the topic “inappropriate podcasts” you can find the discussion created in June 2019, telling you to REMOVE PODCAST SECTION FROM HOMEPAGE, and the post has about 3,000 likes. But this issue was never settled. It’s getting WORSE. 

For anyone at Spotify who could access my history, please show facts about how often I listen to podcast on your platform? One episode per year? Or NEVER? 

I don’t believe you would change so I’ve cancelled my subscription just now.

[NoAccountYet]

Do you have "Show explicit content" (or something like that) enabled in the settings?

[chengyingjia]

It’s off.

I subscribed to some business podcasts but it’s still suggesting adult shows.

 

[chengyingjia]

How ironic and funny. I paid over 10 CAD every month for a music app, which now looks more like a P**n Talk app... 

[Alex]

Hey @chengyingjia,

Thanks for the post and the screenshots.

We understand your frustration. The app recommends shows that it thinks you might like and shows which are popular with other users who tend to listen to similar content. 

We recommend listening to more of what you like, so that the algorithm doesn't recommend content outside that area. 

Also, add your +Vote to the Idea you've mentioned and don't let the status discourage you. This simply means that it's not something planned for the next upcoming update.

Hope this info helps.

[chengyingjia]

Hi Alex, 

I am glad to hear that you understand my frustration. It's always respectful to allow users to tell your smart recommender system they like or dislike the suggestions that you provide. Hope you can understand.

[davidhcefx]

This annoying recommendation also makes me dislike Spotify. Just look at YouTube, if I remove a song from my playing history, YT would stop recommending it on my home page. Too bad a subscription-based streaming platform looks inferior to an advertisement-based one.

[Astra_Moon]

Yeh, I keep clicking podcasts to try on Spotify every couple of months and they tend to be mostly the opposite of what I listen to normally. I don't understand how 1 + 1 = 92 or how this system is even remotely helpful to anyone. It is super simple to just check out the most listened to genres of an account and recommend based on that. Ugh... I am really getting inclined to never check recommendations anymore, but I am paying for this service. If they can't give me AD-free, then at least have some decent basic functions, will ye!

[12143655402]

I NEVER listen to spotify podcasts, yet on the top of my spotify home page there sits a bunch of really inappropriate podcasts I will literally NEVER listen to. 

With all your 'algorithm prowess', surely Spotify could be smart enough to realize I am not your target for this filth. Get with the times and add a 'remove podcast' option for people who pay ridiculous money to you!!