Spotify is expanding its social features, giving users new ways to connect over music without leaving the app. The streaming platform has introduced a Messages feature that lets users see what their friends are streaming in real time and send requests to start Jams, Spotify’s collaborative listening experience.
To use the feature, users must enable “listening activity” in the Privacy & Social section of Settings. Once activated, a friend’s listening activity appears at the top of Messages chats. Users can tap the activity to play the track, save it, react with an emoji, or open additional options.
Premium subscribers can also initiate a Jam by tapping the option in the chat, sending a request to friends. If accepted, the friend becomes a Jam host, and both can add tracks to a shared queue, listening together in real time. Free users can join a Jam session only when invited by a Premium user.
The new features will roll out to iOS and Android apps in markets where Spotify Messages is available, with broad availability expected by early February 2026. Both features are restricted to users aged 16 and above.
Spotify launched Messages in August 2025 as part of a broader effort to make the platform more social. Previously, users shared music and podcasts via external apps, but the company is now encouraging more interaction within Spotify itself to boost engagement and retention, while attracting more paying subscribers.
Currently, Messages can only be sent to individual users previously interacted with, such as playlist collaborators or participants in Jams or Blends. While messages are encrypted at rest and in transit, Spotify notes that they are not protected by end-to-end encryption.
By integrating real-time sharing and collaborative listening, Spotify is aiming to transform the way users interact with music, turning passive listening into a shared social experience.
