TL;DR
Spotify is rolling out two social features inside its Messages tool: a live Listening Activity feed and a Request to Jam option for collaborative listening. Users must opt in to share listening activity; Premium users can invite others to co-listen and manage a shared queue.
What happened
Spotify has added new in-app social tools designed to keep music sharing inside its platform. The update places friends’ live Listening Activity at the top of Messages chats for people who enable the setting (found under Settings > Privacy & Social). Tapping a friend’s activity lets you play the track, save it, open the menu, or react with an emoji. Premium subscribers also gain a Request to Jam control in the Messages interface; sending a request and having it accepted hands hosting to the recipient, and both participants can add songs to a shared queue and listen together. The features will arrive on iOS and Android in markets where Spotify’s Messages feature exists, with broader availability in those regions expected by early February. Because these tools operate through Messages, they’re limited to users 16 and older.
Why it matters
- Keeps music discovery and sharing inside Spotify, reducing reliance on external apps for social interaction.
- Creates another incentive for users to subscribe to Premium, since sending a Request to Jam requires a paid account.
- Facilitates real-time collaborative listening, which may increase engagement and time spent in the app.
- Raises privacy and security questions because Messages are not protected by end-to-end encryption.
Key facts
- Users must enable Listening Activity in Settings > Privacy & Social for their streams to appear in Messages.
- A friend’s listening preview appears at the top of Messages chats and can be tapped to play, save, open the menu, or react with an emoji.
- Premium users can send a Request to Jam; if accepted, the recipient becomes the Jam host and both people can add tracks to a shared queue.
- Free accounts can join a Request to Jam only when invited by a Premium user.
- Listening Activity and Request to Jam will roll out on iOS and Android where Messages is available, with broad availability in those markets by early February.
- Both features are only available to Spotify users aged 16 and older.
- Spotify launched Messages in August 2025 to support in-app sharing and conversations.
- Messages can only be sent to individual users you’ve previously shared content with (for example, playlist collaborators or past Jam/Blend participants).
- Messages are encrypted at rest and in transit but are not end-to-end encrypted.
What to watch next
- Whether Spotify expands Messages beyond one-to-one chats to support group messaging — not confirmed in the source.
- If and when Spotify will bring these features to desktop or web apps — not confirmed in the source.
- Any future plans to add end-to-end encryption for Messages or the new social features — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Listening Activity: A real-time feed that shows what a user is currently streaming; visible to friends if the user opts in through privacy settings.
- Request to Jam: A feature that lets one user invite another to a collaborative listening session where both participants can add tracks to a shared queue.
- Messages (Spotify): Spotify’s in-app direct messaging system for sending tracks and chats to individual users you’ve previously shared content with.
- End-to-end encryption: A security method where only communicating users can read the messages; intermediaries, including the service provider, cannot access the content.
Reader FAQ
How do I enable the Listening Activity feature?
Open Settings, go to Privacy & Social, and turn on Listening Activity.
Can Free users start a Jam session?
No. Free users can join a Request to Jam only when invited by a Premium subscriber.
Are Messages end-to-end encrypted?
No. Messages are encrypted at rest and in transit but are not protected by end-to-end encryption.
When will these features be available to me?
They’re rolling out on iOS and Android in markets where Messages exists and should be broadly available in those markets by early February.
Spotify is adding even more social features as it seeks to keep users from leaving the app to share music. The company on Wednesday said it is introducing a new…
Sources
- Spotify now lets you share what you’re streaming in real time with friends
- Spotify update reveals your friends' live listening habits
- Spotify adds listening activity to messages – Breaking The News
- Spotify's new Jam feature lets you listen to shared playlists …
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