Spotify Technology SA said on Tuesday it has begun rolling out “Messages,” a direct-messaging tool that lets users share songs, podcasts and audiobooks without leaving the music-streaming app. The feature is available on mobile devices to both Free and Premium subscribers who are at least 16 years old and will appear first in selected Latin American markets before expanding to the United States, Canada, Brazil, Europe, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand in the coming weeks. Messages supports one-to-one chats, emoji reactions and industry-standard encryption for data at rest and in transit. Users can block or report accounts and may opt out of the service entirely. Spotify said the move is meant to streamline in-app social interactions and could increase engagement by keeping recommendations inside the platform rather than pushing them to third-party services.