Spotify is launching a new messaging feature for users aged 16 and older, allowing them to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks, as well as chat via text and emojis, with select markets opening this week, aiming to boost engagement and social interaction on the platform.
Spotify is rolling out a new messaging feature for both free and premium users on mobile devices in select markets, aiming to increase user engagement and market share amid competition from Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube. The feature allows users to chat and share music with those they've interacted with on Spotify, reviving a previously discontinued feature to capitalize on recent subscriber growth and expand its content offerings.
Fitness app Strava has launched a new direct-messaging feature, sparking mixed reactions among users. While some see the potential for coordinating group rides and connecting with other users, others express concerns about potential abuse and unwanted messages. The messaging feature is part of Strava's broader strategy to become more than just a workout logging and sharing platform, aiming to be a central hub for users' active lives. The company's recent hire of a former YouTube executive as CEO further indicates its focus on social media-like features. However, the success of these new features and Strava's future direction will depend on user adoption and the company's ability to address potential vulnerabilities and maintain a positive user experience.
Instagram's broadcast channels, a one-way messaging feature, will be available globally, allowing users to send messages to their followers, who can react to them and vote in polls, but can't respond directly. Creators can post images, videos, and audio clips, and invite others to join their channel as a collaborator. Meta plans to bring channels to Facebook and Messenger as well, and is developing a text-based "decentralized social network" to rival Twitter.
BeReal, the social media app that prompts users to take a front-and-back camera photo to share with friends, is adding a private messaging feature called RealChat. Users can message one-on-one with friends, send private BeReals, and react with RealMoji. The chat system will launch with blocking and reporting features, and users can delete their own messages. Private messaging is one of the most commonly requested features from users. BeReal has 20 million daily active users and has raised $60 million in a Series B round, but has no ads or paid features yet.