Certain Spotify users have come forward with experiences of stumbling upon explicit videos in search results for well-known artists, raising alarms regarding the platform’s content oversight. To compound the issue, the process for reporting such inappropriate content appears to be quite tedious.
On Sunday, *The Verge* highlighted a Reddit discussion where a user posted a (NSFW link) [screenshot of an explicit video](https://www.reddit.com/r/truespotify/comments/1honv2p/bro_what_the_actual_fuck/) that appeared in Spotify’s search results for the artist M.I.A. Although the particular link seems to have been deleted, and the search result couldn’t be replicated, multiple users in the thread acknowledged facing similar problems.
One Reddit user voiced their annoyance, stating, [“I reported another user for porn 4 days ago and it’s still up.”](https://www.reddit.com/r/truespotify/comments/1honv2p/comment/m4cltrr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) Another contributor remarked, [“Now there’s porn on my main page and in my recently listened section, and I can’t even remove it the way we used to.”](https://www.reddit.com/r/truespotify/comments/1honv2p/comment/m4clvbn/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
The issue seems linked to Spotify’s podcast feature, which permits users to upload content without prior vetting. While Spotify prohibits sexually explicit material on its platform, including pornography or depictions of genitalia meant for sexual pleasure, the absence of pre-upload checks allows such content to bypass scrutiny. The platform’s guidelines also clearly prohibit content that glorifies sexual themes associated with rape, incest, or bestiality.
Upon reaching out to *The Verge*, a Spotify spokesperson confirmed that the identified NSFW videos were taken down for breaching the company’s regulations.
Nevertheless, the lack of an efficient reporting method continues to be a considerable issue. Although Spotify offers a [content reporting page](https://support.spotify.com/us/content-policy-reporting/) on its site, users have pointed out the lack of a simple “report” button within the app itself, making it difficult to flag unsuitable content swiftly.
This situation underscores a deficiency in Spotify’s content moderation and reporting frameworks, prompting inquiries about how the platform guarantees a safe and appropriate environment for its users.