news
Spotify messages launches in Kenya
Spotify is rolling out "Messages," a new in-app chat feature, to its listeners in Kenya. The function, available to both Free and Premium users, is designed to create a single location for sharing and discussing songs and podcasts directly within the Spotify app.
The company noted that Kenyans already share Spotify content millions of times each month, and the new feature aims to streamline that process.
The "Messages" feature allows for one-to-one conversations where users can add text and react with emojis. To share, users tap the "Share" icon from the "Now Playing" screen and select a friend. The "Messages" inbox can be found by tapping the profile photo in the top left corner. Spotify will suggest contacts based on a user's prior interactions, such as with whom they have joined Jams, created Blends, built collaborative playlists, or share a Family or Duo plan.
For artists and podcasters, the company said the goal is to make sharing easier, which could lead to more discovery and "word of mouth at digital speed."
Spotify clarified that the feature is intended to complement existing sharing habits on other platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, rather than replace them.
Regarding security, users have the ability to accept or ignore message requests, block users, and report content. Spotify stated that conversations are protected with encryption "in transit and at rest" and that the platform uses proactive detection for harmful content, with human moderators reviewing reports.
“In Kenya, recommendations are social currency," said Phiona Okumu, Spotify's Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. "Messages brings that local energy into Spotify so the right track, pod, or chapter gets to the right person faster.”
The company indicated that this is the initial rollout and that the feature will be expanded and refined for more listeners in the region over the coming months.
