Faith
Watchdog Urges Spotify to Protect Minors
Faith Facts
- A leading anti-sexual exploitation group is urging Spotify to halt its direct message feature, warning it could open doors for predators to target minors.
- The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) argues that allowing teens access to the Messaging feature exposes them to online harms, noting Spotify’s history of delayed child safety measures.
- Spotify claims safeguards such as age verification and content controls, but NCOSE says these measures may not be adequate or fully implemented.
Christian leaders and families must stay vigilant as platforms adopt features that can risk children’s safety online. The call for higher standards and transparent protections reflects our duty to safeguard young people within a rapidly changing digital world.
Haley McNamara of NCOSE stated,
“Spotify should halt its rollout of a new DM feature, given that DMs are a prime way predators can contact teens. Spotify has a track record of not prioritizing child safety, as it took them eight years just to add basic parental controls (Spotify Kids).”
The organization places Spotify on the 2024 “Dirty Dozen List” for failing to adequately protect children from exploitation. Recent findings included instances of minors encountering explicit material and being exposed to grooming behavior. These concerns highlight the need for faith-informed vigilance and advocacy for children’s well-being.
Spotify representatives claim new safeguards, including age verification and reporting features. However, McNamara called these measures “potentially misleading,” noting that robust age checks are only being tested in select areas and do not cover all minors using the Messages feature.
She argued that true child protection would mean raising the messaging age to 18 and requiring thorough age verification, aligning with Christian values of protecting the vulnerable. Research cited by NCOSE shows predators frequently target teens aged 16 and 17—demonstrating the need for platforms to reflect moral and family-oriented standards in their policies.
McNamara concluded,
“Allowing minors to decline messages is good, but it is not a child protection policy. Predators often use lies, fake profiles, or flattery to bypass a minor’s judgment and draw them into harmful exchanges.”
Faith-driven communities have a vital role in advocating for accountability and higher standards in technology, ensuring the safety and dignity of every child online. Stay informed, speak up, and pray for wisdom as we work to protect the next generation.