> At a Glance
> – Spotify now shows what friends are playing inside its Messages tab
> – Premium users can invite friends to start a shared Jam queue from the chat
> – Features roll out globally on iOS and Android by early February 2026
> – Why it matters: Keeps music discovery and sharing inside Spotify instead of rival social apps
Spotify is doubling down on in-app socializing. The streaming giant on January 7, 2026, unveiled two new tricks inside its year-old Messages feature: live “Listening Activity” and instant “Request to Jam.”
How the New Tools Work
Flip on “listening activity” in Settings → Privacy & Social and your current track appears at the top of every Messages thread. Friends can tap it to play the song, save it, open the menu, or emoji-react.
Premium subscribers see a Jam button in the chat header. One tap sends an invite; if the friend accepts, they become co-host and both can add songs to the same real-time queue.
Availability and Limits
| Feature | Who Can Use It | Age Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Activity | Anyone with Messages access | 16+ |
| Request to Jam | Premium sends, Free can join | 16+ |
The update lands on iOS and Android wherever Messages already exists and will be fully live by February 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Spotify wants to stop users from jumping to Instagram or TikTok to share music
- Messages stays one-to-one and is limited to people you’ve already shared playlists, Jams, or Blends with
- Chats are encrypted at rest and in transit, but not end-to-end
With these moves, Spotify turns its Messages tab into a mini social feed-one play and one Jam at a time.
