Facebook now offering Spotify suggestions in Messenger

Facebook’s instant messaging Messenger app now allows its 1 billion users to get Spotify suggestions. The feature has been available in certain regions for a few months, but it’s now rolled out across the whole user network.

For any generic conversation like “listen to some music” or “wonder when Rihanna’s touring”, AI assistant M will recommend some music through Spotify. It then offers a Spotify icon with a “Find Music” message.

Tapping that opens a webview from which users can browse Spotify’s options and make a choice.

It is unknown at this time how much of the suggestion is based on Spotify’s algorithms.

If you don’t need any Rihanna music to accompany your chats about the singer, the function can be turned off at M’s settings menu.

Optimised Spotify links have been integrated on Messenger since last year.

But this latest move is Facebook’s latest attempt to actively increase user retention through various third parties.

Despite its popularity as the world’s most instant messaging solution, Messenger is yet to be monetised.

This is something that Facebook’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has committed himself to after the social media posted its finances for Q2 2017.

Messenger conversations already provide suggestions for food recipes, Uber rides and orders from Delivery.com, depending on the user’s location.