In July, Spotify began allowing listeners to comment on podcast episodes within the app. In addition, it is now introducing a new set of controls to assist podcasters in managing and moderating these comments.
Spotify Initial Commenting Process
In the early days of the commenting feature, podcasters were responsible for reviewing and publishing comments. To improve this process, Spotify has implemented a configurable auto-moderation tool. Additionally, it filters out sensitive or inappropriate comments. As a result, it allows podcasters to focus on the content that matters.
Auto-Moderation Levels
Spotify’s new tool offers three moderation levels:
- Standard: The new feature will not publish the comments identified as potentially sensitive or inappropriate. In addition, podcasters will review it.
- High: The tool will approve all comments before publishing.
- Low: Users can automatically post most comments, with the exception of those that violate Spotify’s rules.
It’s important to note that even when creators publish comments marked as sensitive or choose the “Low” setting, users will not be able to view these sensitive comments. Users will need to click on “Show all comments” to access them.
Spotify Custom Blocklist Options
Podcasters can enhance their comment moderation by adding specific words, phrases, or emojis to a blocklist. It will automatically send comments containing these entries for review. Thus, it will provide further control over the conversation surrounding their content.
Flexibility in Commenting
Creators can also choose to disable comments for any episodes they feel are not suitable for discussion. This flexibility allows podcasters to curate the engagement experience according to their preferences.
Spotify Language Support Expansion
Spotify plans to broaden the language support for this feature in the near future. As Spotify for Podcasters refines its automatic detection system, all non-English comments will require manual approval.
Engagement Metrics
Since the launch of the commenting feature, Spotify users have posted an impressive 2.5 million comments across 650,000 episodes. Notably, around 44% of published comments receive likes or replies from the show’s creator. As a result, it highlights the interactive nature of the platform.
Spotify Enhancing Podcast Engagement
Spotify has been actively working to make podcasts more engaging by incorporating features such as Q&As, polls, and video podcasts. Earlier this year, the company reported that users engaging with these features are four times more likely to listen to the same show within 30 days. Thus, it emphasizes the importance of interactive content in building listener loyalty.
