For years, Spotify users have been quietly stalking their friends’ playlists on desktop, but mobile users have been left out of the fun. That’s finally changing. Spotify is rolling out its popular Listening Activity feature to mobile, along with a brand-new Request to Jam option for chats, bringing social music discovery to your pocket.
Until now, mobile users couldn’t see what their friends were listening to in real-time. A small experiment in 2022 hinted at mobile access, but it never officially launched. Now, the company is giving mobile users the same social experience that desktop users have enjoyed for years.
Emmanuel Umahi
How Spotify's Listening Activity Works
The listening activity is opt-in, so you remain in control. Once enabled in your privacy settings, you can choose exactly which friends can see what you’re listening to. Perfect for those who want to keep certain guilty pleasures private, whether that’s late-night indie jams or toddlers’ Caspar Babypants sessions.
On mobile, your friends’ Listening Activity will appear in the sidebar alongside your chats. Spot something you like? Tap to add it to your library, or drop an emoji to react. It’s a small but satisfying way to stay connected through music.
Spotify isn’t stopping at passive observation. The new Request to Jam feature lets Premium users sync listening sessions with friends. Tap the Jam button in a chat to send a request, and if your friend accepts, you can listen together in real-time, queue songs, and even chat as the music plays. Spotify will also suggest tracks based on your shared tastes, a modern, virtual version of swapping playlists at a party.
Free users can join a jam if invited, but initiating a session remains a Premium perk.
What This Means for Spotify and Users
These updates are more than just fun features. By bringing social listening fully to mobile, Spotify is reinforcing its position as a music-first social network. The combination of real-time updates and collaborative listening blurs the line between passive streaming and shared music experiences, potentially keeping users engaged for longer periods.
It also nudges Spotify further ahead of competitors like Apple Music, which doesn’t have the same robust social listening features, especially on mobile. For users, it’s a chance to make music discovery more interactive, personal, and fun, no matter where you are.
The Takeaway
Spotify is making mobile listening social again, but this time with real depth. You can finally see what your friends are playing and even jam together in real-time, making music a shared experience rather than a solo one. For Spotify, it’s a strategic move to keep users engaged, build community, and differentiate itself in the crowded streaming market. For listeners, it’s a small feature with big potential to bring friends closer through music, even when you’re miles apart.
Emmanuel Umahi
