Children under 13 are not permitted to use the main Spotify service, and younger users have tailored advertising turned off by default until they reach the appropriate age, at which point they receive a notice within the app.
This analysis describes what Spotify's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The age-based restriction on the main service and the automatic transition to tailored advertising at an age threshold raise COPPA compliance considerations and require that Spotify's age verification and account creation processes reliably prevent under-13 use of the main platform.
Interpretive note: The policy references 'appropriate age' for tailored advertising without specifying the numeric threshold, creating ambiguity about compliance with state-specific age-of-consent standards for advertising.
The policy states that users under 13 may not use the main Spotify service, and that younger users have tailored advertising disabled by default; when a younger user reaches the appropriate age for tailored advertising, Spotify states it will notify them within the app and direct them to the Tailored Ads setting.
How other platforms handle this
Replit does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Users between the ages of 13 and 18 may use the platform with parental or guardian consent. If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete...
If you're a parent or legal guardian, and you allow your child to use the Service, then these Terms apply to you and you're responsible for your child's activity on the Service, including any transactions made by your child using the Service. You also represent that your child is the cardholder or a...
Children under 13 are not allowed to use Pinterest. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe that a child...
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"Spotify has a separate privacy policy for children under 13 that applies in all markets where we offer Spotify Kids. If you are under 13, you are not permitted to use the main Spotify Service. Younger users may have tailored advertising turned off by default. When you reach the appropriate age, you will start to receive tailored advertising. When this happens, you will receive a message within the Spotify Service to let you know.— Excerpt from Spotify's Spotify Privacy Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The prohibition on under-13 use of the main service engages the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which is enforced by the FTC and prohibits collection of personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. The Age Check mechanism described elsewhere in the policy may be part of Spotify's COPPA compliance infrastructure. State laws including California's Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC) and similar legislation in other states may impose additional obligations for services used by minors under 18. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The policy states that under-13 users are not permitted on the main service but does not detail the technical or procedural measures used to enforce this restriction. COPPA compliance depends on the effectiveness of age gate mechanisms. The automatic transition to tailored advertising upon reaching an age threshold should be reviewed to confirm it aligns with applicable age-of-consent standards for advertising in each jurisdiction. JURISDICTION FLAGS: The FTC enforces COPPA at the federal level. California's AADC imposes additional design and data minimization requirements for services likely to be accessed by users under 18. Several other states have enacted or are considering similar minor protection statutes. The policy's reference to 'appropriate age' for tailored advertising without specifying the age creates ambiguity that may engage state-specific requirements. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Third-party Age Check providers used to verify age for features available to younger users should be assessed for COPPA compliance, particularly regarding parental consent workflows and data handling for minors. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should review the effectiveness of age verification at account creation to confirm COPPA compliance. The 'appropriate age' threshold for tailored advertising transition should be defined and documented internally and assessed against state minor protection requirements. Spotify Kids' separate privacy policy should be reviewed for consistency with the main policy and COPPA requirements.
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The age-based restriction on the main service and the automatic transition to tailored advertising at an age threshold raise COPPA compliance considerations and require that Spotify's age verification and account creation processes reliably prevent under-13 use of the main platform.
The policy states that users under 13 may not use the main Spotify service, and that younger users have tailored advertising disabled by default; when a younger user reaches the appropriate age for tailored advertising, Spotify states it will notify them within the app and direct them to the Tailored Ads setting.
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