While we patiently wait for Spotify Wrapped 2023 to release, it looks like a tweak is coming to the way recommendations are served: Spotify appears to be testing the option to disable personalized recommendations.
This comes from code spotted in a beta version of one of Spotify’s apps, by a MacRumors source. However, at this point we don’t know much else about this potential new feature or how it could work when it’s rolled out to users.
Personalized recommendations are of course based on listening history and habits, so presumably most people will want to keep them enabled to see more music that suits their tastes. Without the personalization, the recommendations would likely be trending and popular, or picked by Spotify employees.
It looks like this is an optional extra for users, so personal recommendations certainly won’t go away. However, it can also be useful if someone else (such as your children) uses your Spotify account the Flavor Profile functions help you customize the way your recommendations work to some extent.
Keep following
By default, Spotify keeps track of everything you do in the app, so you never run out of something to listen to. This way you can automatically continue playlists with related music. These algorithm-driven recommendations also apply to Spotify audiobooks and podcasts.
It’s possible that some people just don’t want to be controlled by algorithms and AI, or don’t want Spotify to track every playlist they put on, or both. Until we officially know what this new setting could mean, we can only speculate as to why it would be implemented.
This built-in tracking makes features like Spotify Wrapped 2023 work, giving you a deep dive into all the songs you’ve played over the years – and perhaps uncovering some listening trends you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
We will of course keep you informed if we hear anything about what might happen with Spotify and personalized recommendations. In the meantime, check out our Spotify guide to tips and tricks to get more out of the music streaming service.
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