How to Tell if a Song is Clean on Spotify

With over 80 million tracks on Spotify, some contain explicit lyrics unsuitable for certain audiences. So how can you identify clean content on Spotify to avoid inadvertently playing songs with swearing, violence, or other mature themes?

This guide covers techniques to determine if Spotify songs are radio edit clean versions or explicit and how to best control what’s played through curated playlists and parental controls.

Spotify Content and Age Ratings

Spotify offers:

• Clean “radio edit” of most popular tracks without mature themes.
• Some songs only available in explicit album version.
• Explicit songs marked with E tag next to track name.
• Age ratings to indicate potentially objectionable content.

Being aware of indicators helps identify clean content.

Viewing Song Metadata to Identify Versions

On the web player or mobile app:

1. Right click or tap the three dots next to a song title.
2. Select “View Credits”.
3. Scroll down to see clean version in track details.

This definitively checks song cut.

Listening to Preview Snippets Before Playing

When unsure of a song’s contents:

• Tap the play icon to hear a short preview clip.
• Previews play key portions to judge language and themes.
• Helps avoid blasting unintended explicit tracks.

Previews give a sense of questionable content before putting on speakers.

Adding Clean Songs to Radio Edits Playlist

Curate a playlist with only clean versions:

• Search for “[Song] radio edit” to find clean version.
• Listen to preview to confirm.
• Add song to playlist for easy access.

Having a cleaned-up playlist avoids digging during playback.

Using the “Song Radio” Feature

The Song Radio auto-generated playlists only provide clean versions of tracks.

To use:

1. Click the radio icon next to a song.
2. Select “Start Radio”.
3. Similar songs will queue up all in radio edit format.

Enabling Spotify’s Explicit Content Filter

In Spotify app settings:

1. Go to the Explicit Content Filter option.
2. Toggle filter on to omit explicit results.

This prevents explicit songs from appearing at all in playlists or radio-style recommendations.

Blocking Songs With Explicit Cover Art

Some tracks without swearing have sexually explicit cover images. To hide:

1. Right click menu on desktop or tap the three dots on mobile.
2. Choose “Don’t show this song” to block it.

This prevents the graphic cover art from appearing while keeping the song available.

Examining Artist and Album Names

Foul or sexual language is sometimes incorporated into:

• Artist pseudonyms like Princess Vitarah.
• Sexually suggestive album titles and cover art.
• Pausing before playing artists and albums you don’t recognize.

These hints provide clues to potentially objectionable content.

Using Cleanify and Other Third-Party Filters

Browser extensions like Cleanify:

• Scan Spotify playlists and remove explicit tracks.
• Replace with radio edits of same songs automatically.
• Allow whitelisting clean artists and albums you trust.

Plug-ins help restrict profane song exposure.

Relying on Label or Parental Advisory Tags

While inconsistent, songs marked:

• Explicit by label sources like AMC are almost certain to live up to this tag.
• Parental Advisory are very likely to contain swearing/themes.

Use external content ratings to identify more objectionable tracks.

Limiting Access With Family Plan Controls

For kid accounts in Family Plans:

• Set age filtering restrictions under Family settings.
• Toggle on “Explicit content filter” to only show clean versions.
• Disable ability to toggle restrictions.

Family plan parental controls help shield kids.

Turning Off Autoplay to Avoid Surprises

Autoplaying similar songs risks inadvertent explicit tracks.

To disable:

• On the Now Playing screen hit toggle switch for Autoplay.
• Or in settings turn off Autoplay.

This requires manually choosing each song to better control unexpected content.

Encouraging Proper Music Selection for Kids

For children, recommend playlists:

• Made just for kids with only fully clean versions.
• Flagged “Clean” in title indicating songs checked.
• From trusted brands like Disney and Kidz Bop.

Promoting approved playlists helps instill good habits.

Teaching How to Identify Clean Content

Educate kids to examine songs for warning signs of mature content:

• Song titles and artist names referencing adult themes.
• Cover art showing violence, drugs, or sex.
• Parental Advisory or Explicit tags.

Developing discernment helps avoid objectionable media exposure.

Why Explicit Content Appears on Spotify

Spotify contains many explicit tracks because:

• Artists want their albums presented in original uncensored form.
• Leaving content decisions to listeners aligns with Spotify values.
• Spotify provides controls like filtering to manage what you are exposed to.

Giving choice enables personal responsibility and parental authority.

Closing Thoughts on Identifying Clean Spotify Songs

While requiring diligence on the listener’s part, Spotify does provide useful tools to determine whether songs contain inappropriate content and selectively filter playlists to be kid and family friendly. Utilizing previews, examining metadata, enabling restrictions, and promoting education ensures you can confidently curate clean Spotify listening while retaining account control.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clean Songs on Spotify

Does the Spotify Kids app only provide clean music?

Yes, the dedicated Spotify Kids app has all content vetted and filtered to provide only radio edit clean versions of songs with no explicit lyrics present at all.

Can clean and explicit songs have the same title?

Yes, sometimes there are both edited clean versions and original explicit versions of the same song title present on Spotify. Previewing the tracks is the only way to definitively distinguish them by lyrics.

Why does Spotify restrict some music but provide parental controls?

Spotify believes end users should have choice over content while exercising responsibility. They provide parental controls but think preemptively censoring all content goes too far.

Can Spotify auto-generate clean versions of songs?

No, Spotify does not currently have the capabilities to dynamically edit songs to remove profanity in their raw form. Clean versions are producer-generated “radio edits”.

Does Spotify warn if you are about to play an explicit song?

No, Spotify does not provide any additional confirmation when playing tracks marked explicit. Enabling the filter is the only way to prevent explicit songs from playing entirely.