Spotify is officially rolling out direct messages (DMs), and I can’t help but ask: do we really need another place for people to message us? Between iMessage, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, Signal, and the dozen other inboxes already vying for our attention, Spotify thinks it has the missing piece.

But here’s the twist — Spotify DMs aren’t trying to replace your chats. They’re built around one thing: sharing Spotify content.

How Spotify Messages Work

The feature, simply called “Messages,” lives in a new tab you can find by tapping your profile (top left) or swiping right on the home screen. From there, you’ll see:

  • Existing message threads (with unread ones at the top)
  • An option to start a new conversation
  • A big share button to send music, podcasts, or audiobooks directly to friends

And yes, you can also type text, send emojis, and even customize album art before firing off a song.

The kicker? It’s free. Unlike many “social” features companies hide behind a paywall, Spotify is making this available to all users aged 16 and up — Premium subscription not required.

The Good, The Bad, and The Unnecessary?

  • The Good: Sharing within Spotify is seamless. No more copying links into WhatsApp or pasting into Instagram DMs. You want someone to listen to the exact song stuck in your head? Now it’s just a tap away.
  • The Bad: Privacy purists, beware. Spotify says your chats are encrypted “in transit and at rest,” but also admits it uses AI scanning to detect harmful content. Combine that with human moderators reviewing flagged conversations, and this isn’t Signal-level privacy.
  • The Unnecessary?: Let’s be real. Most of us are drowning in inboxes. Do we need yet another messaging thread to check every morning? Or is Spotify banking on us being too lazy to switch apps when sharing a song?

Suggested: Spotify High-Fidelity FLAC Audio Coming to iPhone, Android: Lossless Streaming Spotted in App

The 404 Take

Honestly, Spotify Messages feels less like a WhatsApp competitor and more like a glorified share button upgrade. And that’s probably fine. If it makes sharing easier, I’ll use it. But I doubt anyone’s abandoning their group chat to move the conversation into Spotify.

At worst, it’s another notification stream you’ll need to mute. At best, it’s a slick way to send songs without leaving the app.

So, question is: Will you actually use Spotify DMs, or will it join the graveyard of social features we forget exist?

Categorized in:

Android, iPhone, News, Web,

Last Update: August 26, 2025

Tagged in:

, , ,