Spotify tattoos: Everything to know about this social media trend
Spotify tattoos have become a popular trend on social media platforms like TikTok, allowing users to access their favorite songs instantly by tattooing the unique Spotify code associated with the song. When scanned with the camera function on Spotify's mobile app, the tattooed code plays the song immediately. In 2017, Spotify introduced its codes. Although the exact start of the tattoo craze is unclear, videos with the hashtag "#spotifytattoo" have received millions of views on TikTok.
What are Spotify tattoos all about?
A Spotify tattoo is a "scannable" tag, similar to a QR code, that lets you instantly share or access content inside Spotify. Essentially, each piece of content has a tag, which is a set of distinctive sound bars, that, when scanned, can be shared with another person. It is possible to create Spotify Codes for playlists, albums, songs, artist profiles, and brand profiles. Once the code/tattoo is scanned, it should play the related information right away.
No guarantee on the tattoos
People get the tattoo for sentimental purposes or to add a fun twist to their tattoos. However, as some of the social media videos make clear, once someone gets tattooed, there's no assurance their tattoos will stay in place. The tattoo may not scan correctly if the wearer does not have the exact code lines inked on them.
Tattoo artists share insights on Spotify code tattoos
Tattoo artists John Lapides of United Tattoo in Fountain, Colorado, and Drew Hibbard of Blue Lotus Tattoo & The Piercing Lounge in Madison, Wisconsin, shared with CNN their advice on tattooing Spotify codes. Lapides has inked two Spotify tattoos, while Hibbard has done one. They stressed the importance of selecting a flat body part for the tattoo to minimize distortion and ensure scannability. They also emphasized the significance of line weight and thickness in creating a successful Spotify code tattoo.
Longevity concerns
Many users have complained about how the tattoos work at first and then stop working as they fades overtime. Besides, users have little influence over the platform. Playlists might be modified or changed, songs could be removed, and the codes themselves could change suddenly and over time. To give tattoos the best chance of remaining scannable over time, they advised choosing a larger size and following proper aftercare instructions.
Maximizing chances of a working Spotify tattoo
The artists advised beginning with thinner lines than necessary in order to optimize the likelihood of a successful Spotify tattoo since lines cannot be made thinner; they can only be thickened later if necessary. They also recommended leaving gaps between lines to accommodate changes in skin over time. The circle in the Spotify logo is crucial for scannability, but the three lines within it are not.
