Spotify refines messaging with 'played receipts' and 'saved receipts'

Spotify is quietly enhancing its messaging feature, giving users unprecedented insight into their friends' listening habits. The company is testing “Played Receipts” and “Saved Receipts,” functionalities designed to mirror read receipts found in other messaging apps.

New features offer deeper social music interaction

Launched last August, Spotify’s messaging platform has steadily expanded, adding features like collaborative listening sessions and listening activity. Now, the latest iteration introduces these receipt features, allowing users to see when a shared song or podcast episode has been played or saved.

The functionality, revealed in the latest beta code, provides transparency in musical interactions. Saved Receipts will show if a shared track has been saved, while Played Receipts will notify the sender when the content is played.

Users retain complete control. Both features can be toggled off, effectively disabling the tracking. This prioritizes privacy. If disabled, neither party will see the other’s activity.

Beyond the receipts, Spotify is also working on custom emoji reactions and playlist folders within the mobile app. While these are not yet available to the public, they represent a broader strategy to foster greater social engagement on the platform. The move suggests Spotify understands that music discovery is increasingly a social activity.

This update reinforces Spotify’s commitment to a more transparent and social music experience. It’s a subtle shift, but one that could significantly alter how users connect through music.