- Spotify now asks British users to prove their age to access mature content
- Age verification checks are part of the UK’s new online security law
- Spotify says it will present age control if it suspects that you are under 13, but many users have encountered control despite being over 18 years of age
Spotify has become the latest app to introduce target design to comply with the British online security law by asking users to review age verification checks, whether they want to see or listen to age-limited content-and many users are not happy.
The Online Security Act came into force from July 25 and requires that all platforms showing adult content to verify that users are over 18 using age verification control. So far, we have seen like Xbox, Discord and Reddit introduce age verification, and now Spotify has done the same.
Like Reddit and X, Spotify has collaborated with the digital identification company Yoti, a service that performs age control via facial scan. For Spotify users, Yoti will use different means of age verification, from facial scan to request a scan of your ID if it suspects you are under 13 (Spotify’s minimum age requirement).
It will also use algorithmic methods to estimate the age of a user. But Spotify takes it a step further and says in its official overview that “your account will be disabled and eventually deleted” if you do not complete the age verification process.
While Yoti claims that your data is kept secure and eventually deleted, the new claim has caused rebellion among some Spotify users.
Some have taken forums like Reddit to point out that young people are smart enough to find ways around the controls, for example, using a VPN to change their location to a place other than Britain – and a minority has even threatened to return to piracy (see below).
Comment from R/UK policy
What is ‘mature content’ in Spotify?
This is the burning question among Spotify fans, given that the Music Streaming app does not host X-classified content on the same scale as Reddit or X. However, the platform has certain features aimed at mature users.
In Spotify’s case, you may be asked to verify your age if you try to “access some Spotify content and features, such as music videos labeled as 18+ by court holders”. This may also apply to podcasts discussing mature content and songs with explicit lyrics.
Fortunately, there is a way back if your account is disabled due to an inaccurate age estimation. According to Spotify, you get an E email that “allows you to re -activate your account within 90 days of deactivation”, after which you will need to review age verification checks again.
So far, I have not been asked to confirm my age in the Spotify app when trying to access mature podcasts and music videos, but a handful of users on forums such as Reddit, which is well over 18 years old, have already found the controls.
Why have VPNs become so popular?
Spotify has explained in different community posts that it is not designed to work with VPNs, and of course you should not use one to bypass any age verification control.
However, this has not prevented free VPNs from dominating Apple’s British App Store, as Internet users appear to find ways to protect their data from future violations, or maybe even bypass these controls completely.
VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic, but they are not all equal – so it is important to choose the right one for your needs. Free VPNs can log an excessive amount of data that can ultimately put your privacy at risk and sometimes lack important security features.
If you are interested in some of the best deals for paid VPNs, you can check them below.
