Spotify has added messaging to its app, taking another step toward transforming itself from a streaming service to a social platform. The new tool lets you chat directly within the app and discuss music and podcasts.
Spotify has added messaging to its app, taking another step toward transforming itself from a streaming service to a social platform. The new tool lets you chat directly within the app and discuss music and podcasts.
This is reported by TechCrunch. The feature is available to users who have already interacted with each other in the Spotify ecosystem: created shared playlists, participated in Jam or Blend, or are connected to the same Family or Duo subscription. To start a dialogue, you need to send a request, which the other user must confirm. Messages work only in the “one-to-one” format.
If a link to a track or podcast is sent in third-party apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, or Snapchat, it can also be used to initiate a chat in Spotify. In addition, the user can share the invite link with contacts.
Messages are stored in a separate "Messages" tab, which can be found in the left panel after clicking on the profile avatar. You can also react to messages using emojis.
Spotify says messages are encrypted “in transit and on servers,” but the company reserves the right to review them for compliance. There’s also a content reporting feature.
The notifications are rolling out in stages: currently, they only work in Latin and South America, for users over 16, and only on mobile devices. In the coming weeks, the feature will be available in the US, Canada, Brazil, the EU, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Spotify has been actively expanding its social capabilities over the past year, adding comments to podcasts in 2024, and a redesign of the app has increased its focus on video content. The company also does not rule out the appearance of comments under music tracks.
However, not all users are delighted with this evolution. Complaints about the "cluttered interface" and the abundance of experimental features are increasingly appearing on social networks. For those who find the new features annoying, there is an option in the settings to disable notifications.
We previously wrote about how Spotify announced an increase in prices for using the service due to investments in new features and the intention to reach 1 billion users.
