Snapchat now lets you share what you’re listening to in real time

Snapchat is now letting users share the music they’re listening to in real-time via a new Snap Map feature, TechCrunch has learned exclusively.

The feature, called Now Playing, allows users to link their streaming service account (starting with Spotify) and share what they’re currently listening to via Snap Map, and see what songs their friends are enjoying.

This feature is integrated with Spotlight Videos, which are short, TikTok-like videos on Snapchat, too: you can save any songs you discover in a Spotlight video directly to Spotify, or visit the track page on the platform to do so.

Users can choose who can see their listening activity, and the feature won’t show the last song played or listening history, though sharing will remain active as long as you’ve opened Snapchat within the past 24 hours. If the user remains inactive for more than 24 hours, sharing is automatically paused, and only resumes when the app is opened again. You can also pause sharing for three hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely.

The new feature comes as social media platforms continue to embrace music discovery and sharing. TikTok, where viral trends often shape global music charts, allows users Share songs From streaming services to the social network, as well as saving the songs they come across. Meanwhile, Instagram allows this Users to share What they listen to is through feedback, which are short status updates that appear at the top of users’ inboxes.

Even Spotify itself has turned to social music sharing and release feature It allows users to share what they are listening to with their friends in real time.

“Music is one of the most personal ways people express themselves, and it becomes even more important when you bring friends closer,” Manny Adler, head of music at Snapchat, said in an emailed statement. “Now Playing adds a new layer of expression and discovery to Snap Map, helping Snapchatters share the soundtrack of their day and find new music through people they already know.”

The integration adds another feature to Snap Map, which has more than 450 million monthly users. Launched in 2017, Snap Map was initially meant to be a way for users to see their friends’ locations and browse public snaps from around the world. Over time, the feature has expanded to include local hotspots, activities, and now music discovery.

Snapchat says the new feature will be rolled out to users in regions where both Spotify and Snapchat are available, with Canada coming soon.