Spotify doesn't allow podcast ratings unless you use the mobile app

There are a lot of features all these companies make available only on their mobile apps, because it's where they have the most control (and access over your data). It's the same for social media sites as well, because you can limit them a number of ways on a desktop browser.

Yup, we're the product to them. I even deliberately use an older version of the app before they added those TikTok like videos in the search area because I get better music suggestions than the new version.

The app is nearly impossible to use to just find new music now. Discover Weekly has been a joke for ages too.
- I don't work for Spotify but I am a mobile app dev and while this could easily just be trying to funnel people into the app it could also be focused on preventing bots and fraud.
  
  Mobile phones offer significantly better tamper resistance compared to laptops and PCs. If someone gives a rating from your app on a phone there are several different forms of attestation available to be sure it's not a bot or fake account, none of which work on PC.
  
  And if you're trying to combat the rampant fraud that happens around review manipulation, that is one solution.
- Discover Weekly has been a joke for ages too.
  
  Fr, I just listened to the most recent 2-3 months worth on my backlog (I auto-archive my DW lists so they don't disappear the next week lol) and I think a whopping 2 songs made it on to my master playlist. Usually there's like 10 or more for similar time periods...I was just blaming it on my tastes confusing the algorithm (I like to jump around genre's a LOT lmao) but maybe it wasn't just me after all lol
because it's where they have the most control (and access over your data).

It shouldn't be this way... Is there anything we can do against these practices? Client side.
- Duckduckgo tracking protection blocks thousands of Spotify tracking requests every time I open Spotify
- Tracker Control is an app that basically acts a DNS based blocker. Recognizes what your apps connect to, groups it into necessary and unnecessary domains and so on. It does set up a local VPN though, so you can't use it alongside an actual VPN.
  
  The Duckduckgo app does pretty much the same thing, no need to explain more.
  
  There's more that do the same DNS-based blocking, Netguard being another popular one.
  
  Another option would be to have a blocker running network-wide, a pihole for example. But again, won't do anything in case you're using a VPN, obviously.
  
  And then some apps will straight up refuse to run if you block their trackers. If this happens, it should be the last straw when deciding whether to actually keep the app or not.
Wasn't OP running the desktop app, though? If that's the case, then this theory doesn't really hold water, as desktop apps can do everything that mobile apps can do.

Yeah we're deprioritising the platform you use, because it's niche. We have analytics, and they say your use case doesn't matter. Just accept it and keep paying us, like all those other times

You can't block artists on desktop either. Have to do it from mobile app.
- "What's the matter, don't you guys have phones?"

People who use Spotify for Podcasts already sold their soul to that company they might as well just use whatever Spotify wants them to use.

Everyone else can just use one of the podcast apps which just download the podcast from the podcast website. This includes Apple's Podcast app or if you're on Android I'd use AntennaPod which is packed with great features.

People who use Spotify for Podcasts already sold their soul to that company

Lmao. Why should I not use the functionality if I already pay for it? Doesnt make any sense.
Not like Apple or Google are much better.
They are as evil as Spotify in their own regards.

Your actual best bet would be to set up an RSS feed and download to your own media server and stream from that.
- That is exactle what I wrote I'm not sure why you cut the quote just before I say that those people should use whatever Spotify gives them.
  
  And Apple podcast, AntennaPod and all the other podcast catchers do exactly that they use the RSS feed.
  
  I really don't get the sentiment of that comment.
- Lmao. Wanna go ahead and read the whole sentence?

don't show the button if the user doesn't have access, ux designers.

But what if we show the button, and other frequently used functions that are blocked, to rope you into installing the app and buying premium?
Oh, it's definitely not them.

If all the hub-bub about Chrome getting less secure scared you, wait until you find out about how secure all the apps on your phone are...

I don't do podcasts in Spotify cause I hate how it melds together with my music. I wish I could turn the feature entirely off. There's not enough separation.

Also, Spotify is actively trying to ruin and fragment podcasts by running exclusive content. Fuck them with a rusty rake for trying to ruin one of the last mass interoperable platforms with their walled garden horse shit. Fuck them so much.

Don't use Spotify. Even if they fix the app and make it good, don't use it. They're evil little fuckers. Use literally any other podcast app.
- Podcast Addict has worked for years for me, and he's constantly improving it. Why the fuck would I ever want a paid service to manage and profit on the podcasts I've always listened to for free?
- Shoutout to Pocket Casts
It's worse now with the audiobooks they've added IMO. Clogs the page with them.
- Uhg, I forgot about this. I wish they'd allow customization like a toggle for "enable podcasts", "enable audio books" but they'll never do it because if you're not using it is essentially a persistent ad to remind you about the support within the app.
I left Spotify because of that and the pop up ads every time I opened the app. All I want is to pay for a library of music that I can download and play.
- I complained about the ads to their support and they kept telling me they're sorry about the promotion but they're not ads.
  
  Uhhh what. That's like the definition of an ad. Lol.

That's similar to Audible. I can't rate the books I listened to because I downloaded the instead of streaming them through their app. I think it's to prevent brigading and fake ratings.

It's more difficult to use ad block if you're using their app. This is the reason.

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Pointless gatekeeping by the devs

More likely it's to ensure that you've actually listened to the podcast you're rating

edit: Can someone explain the downvotes, what am I missing here?

It's easy for the service to know if the user account has listened to the podcast, and equally easy to track listens in a webapp. The line between webapp and app is very thin these days anyway.
- The line between webapp and app is very thin these days anyway.
  
  While the user experience may be similar (and in many cases is identical) access to device information is different. For instance, a webapp can not determine the devices volume whereas an Android app can. Device APIs can provide much more confidence that an activity has occurred. I doubt this was an arbitrary decision or gate-keeping by the developers.
I’d say you’re getting downvotes because it’s not a design standard to block rating access based on confirming someone’s consumed content.