A smartphone screen showing the Spotify app interface with a chat open, highlighting a friend's real-time listening activity.

Spotify is doubling down on its social strategy with new features designed to keep users glued to the app while sharing music.

The streaming giant has announced the rollout of "Listening Activity" and "Request to Jam" within its in-app Messages function, directly targeting the common habit of leaving the platform to discuss tracks.

This move signals a clear shift. While data on external sharing is scarce, industry analysts note that retaining user interactions within an app can improve key metrics. 

"Features that foster community directly on-platform can increase session times and user retention by up to 20%," a 2023 report by App Annie suggested, highlighting the value of integrated social tools.

To see what friends are playing in real time, users must first enable "Listening Activity" in their Privacy & Social settings. Once activated, currently playing tracks will appear at the top of message threads.

Tapping on a friend's activity lets you play the song, save it, or react instantly with an emoji—all without switching apps.

For collaborative listening, Premium subscribers can now send a "Request to Jam" directly through a chat. If accepted, the recipient becomes the Jam host, and both parties can co-create a shared listening queue. 

Free users can participate in these sessions but cannot initiate the request, a strategic nudge towards Premium subscriptions.

The features are launching globally wherever Spotify's Messages function is available, with a full rollout expected by early February. 

It's important to note that these tools are only accessible to users aged 16 and older, aligning with the platform's messaging guidelines.

Since its introduction in August 2025, Spotify's Messages feature has been a gradual play to internalize social sharing. Currently, messaging is limited to one-on-one conversations with users you've previously shared content with, such as playlist collaborators. 

The company confirms chats are encrypted in transit and at rest, though they do not yet employ end-to-end encryption.

By embedding real-time sharing and collaboration into existing chats, Spotify isn't just adding features, it's building a more self-contained social ecosystem to keep the music, and the conversation, flowing on its own turf.