Spotify tests filter to skip explicit songs

Spotify, the UK's biggest music streaming service, has started testing a way of filtering out songs which have explicit lyrics.

The feature has been introduced on its iPhone and iPad apps - six years after being requested on its online forums, the BBC reports.

But some users have told BBC Radio 5 live: that the feature does not have enough controls.

Rivals such as Apple Music already have password-protected parental controls to skip explicit tracks.

'Awkward moments'

Since 2011, streaming music providers have been expected to display the word "explicit" next to tracks that record companies believe are unsuitable for children.

Currently more than a third of the Top 50 songs in Spotify's UK chart contain explicit lyrics.

Mother Nicola Ford set up an online petition calling for the filter after she was caught out listening at home.

She said: "I'd had quite a few awkward moments, where the kids had been listening to songs on the radio, and suddenly our home filled [with swear words] when they played the same songs on Spotify.

"I set up a petition online and found that lots of people were petitioning for the same thing, so I got a lot of interest."

The new setting, which was first introduced at the start of April, greys out explicit songs and prevents them from playing, but it doesn't replace them with clean versions.

Nicola says this does not go far enough.

"The kids want to listen to the song that they've heard, so they will try and sneak the song in."

"If they are going to try to listen to the song, I'd like them to get the clean versions."