Spotify is adding a social side to the app with Spotify Messages, a new feature that lets you share music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly with friends and family without leaving the app. Before, sharing meant copying links and sending them through another platform like Instagram, WhatsApp, or iMessage. Now, you can share content and start a conversation in one place, making it easier to connect with people over the things you love.
This feature is rolling out this week to Free and Premium users aged 16 and older in select mobile markets, giving millions of users a new way to share recommendations and discuss content. Messages is designed to be a private, controlled space for the conversations you’re already having about your favorite Spotify content, from music to podcasts to audiobooks.
What Is Spotify Messages?
Spotify Messages is a built-in chat feature for one-on-one conversations that lets you share Spotify content and react with text or emojis. The idea comes directly from user feedback: Spotify listeners wanted a dedicated space to share songs, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks without leaving the app. Messages provides a way to keep track of recommendations, making it easy to continue conversations around what you’re listening to.
It’s important to note that Messages doesn’t replace other social sharing platforms. You can still post content to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or Snapchat, but now you also have a private, focused space where your closest friends and family can respond directly. This makes sharing feel more personal and meaningful because you can add context, explain why you’re sending something, or just react in real time.
How Spotify Messages Works
Using Messages is simple and intuitive. When listening to a song, podcast, or audiobook, tap the share icon in the Now Playing view, select a friend, and hit send. If the recipient hasn’t received a message from you before, they’ll get a message request, which they can accept or decline. Once accepted, you can chat back and forth, react with emojis, and continue sharing content seamlessly.
All your conversations are accessible by tapping your profile picture in the top-left corner of the app, keeping everything organized in one place. Spotify even suggests contacts based on your past interactions, like shared playlists, Jams, Blends, or being part of the same Family or Duo plan. This makes it easy to find the people you want to share with most and ensures that the feature stays relevant and convenient.
Who Can You Message?
Messages are designed for people you’ve already interacted with on Spotify. This includes friends and family you’ve shared content with before, along with suggested contacts based on shared playlists, Jams, Blends, or Family/Duo plans. This approach keeps the experience safe, private, and personal, focusing on the people you actually want to engage with.
Spotify gives users full control over who can message them. You can accept or decline message requests, block users, or opt out of Messages entirely through the app settings. This ensures that the feature remains secure and manageable, letting users focus on meaningful conversations rather than spam or unwanted messages.
Privacy and Security
Spotify Messages is built with security in mind. Conversations are encrypted in transit and at rest, which protects your data whether it’s being sent or stored. Spotify also employs proactive detection and moderation to scan messages for illegal or harmful content. Users can report or block inappropriate messages, giving them additional control over their experience.
This approach makes Messages a safe and private way to connect, letting users share content without worrying about unauthorized access or privacy issues. By putting the user in control and maintaining robust security measures, Spotify makes it so that Messages can be trusted for personal conversations.
Why Spotify Messages Matters
Spotify Messages makes sharing content faster, more personal, and more engaging. Instead of just sending a link, you can explain why a track, playlist, podcast, or audiobook matters to you, and your friend can respond right away. This immediacy turns recommendations into conversations, making content sharing more meaningful than ever.
For creators, Messages also opens new doors. Artists, podcasters, and authors can benefit from word-of-mouth sharing, as users are more likely to recommend content directly to friends and family. This is an organic way to increase discovery and engagement, helping creators reach new audiences while keeping the experience personal and interactive.
How Users Are Reacting
Since the rollout, users have responded positively to Spotify Messages. People love the convenience of sharing content without leaving the app, and they appreciate being able to add context or emojis to their recommendations. Many users note that Messages makes sharing feel more personal and human, turning a simple music or podcast recommendation into a real conversation.
The feature has also been praised for helping users stay connected with friends and family over shared interests. Whether it’s sending a favorite track from a workout playlist or a podcast episode that reminds you of a recent conversation, Messages keeps the interaction immediate and relevant.
Conclusion
Spotify Messages transforms how users share music, podcasts, and audiobooks by creating a private, interactive, and meaningful experience. Everything stays in one place, giving users control over who they chat with while allowing them to add context to their recommendations.
Whether you’re sharing a new track with a friend, recommending a podcast to a family member, or helping someone discover an audiobook, Messages makes the experience personal, secure, and engaging. For Spotify, this is a step toward a platform where content, conversation, and connection come together, giving users a richer, more social way to enjoy the music and podcasts they love.
Paula Quiles
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