After Spotify launched a direct messaging feature to simplify music sharing, many people noticed that Reddit users automatically suggested friends based on music links they had sent. Some suggestions are familiar, but there are also strange names, leading many people to discover that Spotify has linked their accounts to people who have only shared anonymous music on Discord.
The frustration increased when users could not find a way to refuse the feature. While YouTube allows sharing with anonymous links, Spotify forces users to reveal their accounts. Experts point to the issue in the URL tracking: every Spotify music link contains its own identification code, allowing applications to connect underground between accounts.
Cyber news warns that privacy is not a priority in this feature and recommends that users hide personal information, turn off messages in settings, and use anonymous instead of real names. However, according to Reddit, some people think that this is a trend of app development, because TikTok and Instagram have also accidentally revealed the identities of users through shared links. This reflects the trend of platforms increasingly eliminating anonymousness, causing users to worry about privacy.
