Spotify are bringing back DMs
Image credit: Spotify
Spotify are adding a new feature that lets users share music and message each other, years after removing their private messaging feature.
Spotify are introducing ‘Messages’, a new feature for sharing in a love of music. The feature is reminiscent of Spotify’s inbox, an old in-app messaging feature that they ditched in 2017.
Now, messaging is coming back to Spotify and it’s cleaner than ever. Messages is rolling out to both Free and premium users aged 16 years and older. The feature will only be available on mobile devices.
The feature allows users to easily share content with other users that they’ve interacted with. Users can share music, podcasts, and audiobooks with other users. Once a user accepts the connection they can react to shares, send text messages, and share more content with each other.
Sharing content in Spotify Messages is accessed simply by tapping the share icon from the Now Playing View. Users can select the friend that they want to share with and tap send. If it’s a new conversation, the other user will need to accept the message request to start a conversation which they can continue.
Spotify will also suggest people to message based on interactions in the past, like Jams and Blends shared together. Users who share a Family or Duo plan will also be recommended to each other for interaction.
Spotify write: “Recommendations have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Friends and family share their favourite music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more from Spotify millions of times each month. That’s because word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways for people to discover their next favourite track.”
Of course, privacy and security are a large consideration in any new feature that allows interaction between users. Spotify state that their “Terms of Use and Platform Rules against illegal and harmful content still apply to Messages, so if something doesn’t feel right, you can easily report that content or account.”
Users can report a message by holding down on the message, selecting report, and selecting the reason they feel the message violates Spotifys terms and/or rules.
Spotify Messages is being rolled out to selected markets on mobile devices, however they have not announced which markets Messages will be coming to or when.