In 2022, Spotify launched text-based content material warnings for its COVID-related podcasts. Here is why it is not sufficient.
Stemming from its dealing with of an issue regarding Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Expertise, Spotify is in sizzling water over its dealing with of COVID-19 misinformation.
Responding to the backlash, Spotify provides content material advisories to COVID-19 associated podcasts. Nevertheless, it will not be adequate. Learn on to seek out out why.
Spotify Provides a Content material Advisory to A few of Its Podcasts
In January 2022, Spotify added COVID-19 content material advisories to all podcast episodes which debate the pandemic in an intention to get considerably of a deal with on misinformation across the matter on its platform.
In accordance with For the Record, Daniel Ek, Founder and CEO of Spotify, introduced:
We’re working so as to add a content material advisory to any podcast episode that features a dialogue about COVID-19. This advisory will direct listeners to our devoted COVID-19 Hub, a useful resource that gives easy accessibility to data-driven details, up-to-date info as shared by scientists, physicians, teachers and public well being authorities world wide, in addition to hyperlinks to trusted sources. This new effort to fight misinformation will roll out to international locations world wide within the coming days. To our information, this content material advisory is the primary of its type by a significant podcast platform.
This put up follows the backlash obtained by the streaming service from music artists, content material creators, in addition to medical professionals and scientists. In an open letter printed on January 10, 2022, greater than 200 folks known as on Spotify to implement a misinformation coverage.
Why Spotify’s Content material Warnings for Podcasts Aren’t Good Sufficient
With regard to the difficulty of COVID-19 misinformation, Spotify appears to have dragged its toes. So, it’s no shock that its answer is a text-based content material warning, which isn’t almost sufficient.
The obvious cause is that podcasts are audio content material. As a result of folks take heed to podcast episodes whereas driving, exercising, cleansing, or doing some other exercise, it’s uncommon for listeners to look at their display whereas tuning in.
With this, text-based content material warnings should not the easiest way to achieve its target market. Just like how folks skip previous written phrases and situations, listeners can simply and shortly click on off warnings with out studying it and proceed listening.
As a substitute, Spotify audio content material warnings that listeners can’t skip within the first few seconds would have been more practical.
By forcing them to take heed to the content material advisories, very like how audio and video adverts work on different podcasts and on YouTube, persons are assured to listen to the warnings as a result of they might already be listening anyway.
Is Spotify Doing Sufficient to Curb COVID-19 Misinformation?
The Joe Rogan saga revealed that Spotify is not doing sufficient to curb the unfold of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform.
The introduction of the content material warning supplied Spotify the chance to enhance on that. Nevertheless, it is a answer that’s nonetheless missing in execution.
Though, if Spotify actually needs to mitigate the unfold of COVID-19 misinformation on its podcast platform, its finest guess is audio content material warnings, which might be considerably more practical than a text-based one.
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