Analysis and classification of children's content on audio platforms in Spain

Abstract

The rise of digital audio consumption among young people, driven by the proliferation of streaming platforms, audiobooks and smart devices, has ushered in a new era of audification. This phenomenon has redefined the production and distribution of audio content, especially in the case of podcasts, which have seen an exponential growth in offerings aimed at children and Generation Z. However, despite this growth, challenges remain in the production and dissemination of audio content for young people. The research compares the offer of generalist and specialised platforms for children, evaluating aspects such as the quality of metadata, the identification and categorisation of children's content, and the overall distribution strategy. The results reveal a significant lack of detailed information in the metadata of the content, which makes it difficult for younger users to search for and discover. In addition, there is a lack of clear and systematic identification of children's content, especially on generalist platforms, which limits the ability of parents and educators to select appropriate content for children of different ages. In this context, the research suggests the need to implement improvements in distribution strategies for children's audio content.These improvements include the implementation of an age rating system, the improvement of the quality and quantity of metadata, and the promotion of in-house production of children's content on generalist platforms.