Spotify, the popular music streaming service, is planning to raise subscription fees but is also rolling out a new feature — allowing users to chat with each other. This addition comes in response to user requests for an easier way to share songs, podcasts, and audiobooks with friends and family, as well as to discuss music recommendations.
The new messaging section, called Messages, will start appearing this week, with a gradual rollout limited to selected markets. Users must be at least 16 years old to access the chat, which will be available for both free and premium subscribers.
The interface is designed to be simple and resembles other popular messaging apps, but with a focus on sharing content from Spotify’s library. Besides sharing multimedia content, users can also send traditional text messages and react with emojis.
The company assures a high level of message security by employing encryption both for data stored on devices and during transmission. Additionally, proactive technology will monitor for potentially illegal or harmful content, while moderators will be able to respond to reports submitted by users.