Snapchat has introduced a new feature called “Now Playing” that lets users share the music they’re listening to in real time through Snap Map. Starting with Spotify integration, users can link their music streaming accounts to Snapchat and display their current listening activity on the map, as well as view what their friends are playing. The feature also connects with Spotlight, Snapchat’s short-form video platform, allowing users to save songs from videos directly to Spotify or explore the tracks on the streaming service.

Users have control over their privacy settings for this feature, deciding who can see their listening activity. Importantly, the feature only shares music being played while Snapchat is active and stops sharing if the app hasn’t been opened in over 24 hours. Additionally, users can pause sharing for different time periods, including short pauses or indefinitely. The update is positioned as a way to make music sharing more social and discovery-driven among Snapchat’s large user base.

This move by Snapchat aligns with broader trends across social media platforms, where music discovery and sharing have become central to user engagement. TikTok has popularized music trends that impact global charts, and it enables sharing from streaming services. Instagram has added the ability to share music via Notes in direct messages. Even Spotify has adopted real-time sharing with friends through its listening features, highlighting the importance of social music interaction in the digital landscape.

Snap Map, which launched in 2017 and currently serves over 450 million monthly users, was originally designed to show friends’ locations and public Snaps worldwide. Over time, it has expanded to include local events and now music sharing. Snapchat’s head of music, Manny Adler, emphasized that music is a personal form of self-expression and that the “Now Playing” feature adds new ways for friends to connect and discover music together. The rollout is underway in regions with both Snapchat and Spotify availability, with Canada to receive it soon.