Pornographic videos have recently appeared in Spotify search results, raising concerns about content moderation on the music streaming platform. Users discovered explicit thumbnails and adult content when performing innocent searches, including results featuring former adult film performers.

The issue was first reported on Reddit when a user found explicit content after searching for "mia." The search returned adult videos, including content featuring Mia Khalifa. While The Verge couldn't replicate the exact search results, they confirmed finding other pornographic content on the platform.

Content creators are exploiting Spotify's new video feature and podcast upload system to distribute this material. Some accounts have historically posted erotic audio content but have now expanded to explicit videos, while others appear to be newly created specifically for sharing adult content.

Spotify has responded by removing the offensive content, citing violations of their platform policies which explicitly prohibit sexually explicit material. However, the reporting process remains cumbersome, requiring users to submit reports through Spotify's website rather than within the app.

This isn't Spotify's first content moderation challenge. In 2022, the platform faced similar issues with explicit audio content and inappropriate playlist cover art. The platform has also previously dealt with controversial content, including neo-Nazi and white supremacist playlists, which were removed following a Digital Music News report that identified 37 bands promoting hate speech.

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