Snapchat's recent update combines elements of Spotify with Snap Map.

      The new Now Playing feature enables real-time music sharing with adjustable privacy settings.

      Snapchat is giving Snap Map a musical upgrade. The company has introduced Now Playing, a new function that allows users to share the music they are currently listening to in real time on Snap Map. Initially launching with Spotify, this integration helps friends discover each other's favorite songs, save tracks, and access Spotify directly without leaving Snapchat. The feature is currently being rolled out in areas where both Snapchat and Spotify are accessible, with Canada expected to receive it in the near future.

      How Now Playing operates

      After linking a Spotify account to Snapchat, users can opt to show the song they are listening to on Snap Map. Friends can click on the track to view it in Spotify, save it to their Liked Songs, or check out Snapchat Spotlight videos that use the same audio. Songs found through Spotlight and Snapchat's Sound Pages can also be saved directly to Spotify, making this feature about both music sharing and discovery.

      Snap

      Snapchat also provides users complete control over their listening activity visibility. Music can be shared with all Snapchat friends, friends who already have access to the user's location on Snap Map, a customized list of selected friends, or not shared at all. Additionally, listening activity isn't permanent—sharing automatically pauses if Snapchat has not been opened for more than 24 hours, and users can manually pause sharing for three hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely.

      An advancement in social music discovery

      This feature enhances Snap Map’s expanding role beyond basic location sharing. Snap reports that the map now attracts over 450 million monthly users, and Now Playing introduces another way for friends to bond over shared interests rather than just shared locations.

      It also exemplifies the trend of music streaming becoming increasingly social. Instagram allows users to show their Spotify activity through Notes, while TikTok has long permitted users to share and save tracks from streaming services. By integrating real-time listening directly into Snap Map, Snapchat hopes that music recommendations from friends will feel more personal than those generated by algorithms. Whether it will become the next significant discovery tool remains to be seen, but for Spotify users, it offers another seamless way to make everyday listening shareable.

      Varun is a seasoned technology journalist and editor with over eight years of experience in consumer tech media. His work covers…

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