Spotify has rolled out yet another update, and this time, it’s all about video podcasts. As of June 2025, the homepage now greets users with a “Picked for You” feed, prioritizing algorithm-curated video podcast recommendations over the usual playlists and recent releases, which have been relegated to the background.
Spotify claims early metrics are promising — users are liking and saving podcasts more frequently, suggesting better engagement and discovery. However, the new UI hasn’t landed well with everyone, sparking a mix of frustration and concern across social media.
The shift toward video podcast prominence is a clear nod to Spotify’s ambition to evolve into a superapp, blending music, podcasts, and now a more visual, social experience. But this pivot has drawn criticism. On platforms like X, users have voiced annoyance, with some arguing that Spotify is straying too far from its roots as a music streaming service.
Others worry about the implications for teenagers, pointing out that the autoplaying video feed could make it harder for parents to control screen time. The infinite-scroll format, popularized by apps like TikTok, is known to hook users for extended periods—a concern for developing minds prone to overstimulation.
A more pressing issue for some is Spotify’s ongoing struggle with content moderation. Despite platform rules, explicit content, including reposted adult material, has historically slipped through the cracks and even surfaced on top podcast charts. With the new algorithm-driven video recommendations, there’s fear that such content could inadvertently be pushed to users, including younger audiences.
While Spotify offers parental controls, they’re not foolproof — explicit podcasts often go unflagged if creators don’t mark them as such, and the free tier’s ad-heavy experience can expose teens to unfiltered material.
On the flip side, Spotify has introduced features to enhance creator-listener interaction. Podcast episodes now come with comments and infoboxes, allowing creators to engage directly with fans and link to related materials mentioned in episodes, like songs or books available on Spotify.
The comments section even supports threaded replies and emoji reactions, mirroring YouTube’s community features. Creators can manage these interactions via Spotify for Creators, deciding which comments to display or opting out entirely. While this fosters a more connected community, it also adds moderation pressure — some creators worry about the burden of managing high comment volumes, especially for controversial shows.
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Spotify’s latest update reflects its broader push to dominate podcasting, a space where it already competes fiercely with YouTube and Apple Podcasts. The platform’s focus on video aligns with trends showing growing listener preference for visual content, but it’s a gamble.
Balancing discovery, user experience, and safety remains a challenge, and for now, Spotify’s transformation into a one-stop audio-visual hub is proving to be a divisive move.
