I’ve long been aware of the rumors about the streaming giant’s plans to crack down on password sharing. But now, it seems that the change is finally happening. According to Netflix’s recent earnings report, the company plans to enforce a paid password-sharing option “more broadly” by the end of March 2023.
I remember when Netflix started testing this feature in some Latin American countries last year. Users were prompted to pay an additional fee for sharing their password with those who didn’t reside in the same household. And now, it looks like the change will be implemented in more regions in the coming months.
Netflix’s Move to Crack Down on Password Sharing
The earnings report states that Netflix will give subscribers the “option to pay extra if they want to share Netflix with people they don’t live with,” but it doesn’t provide any pricing details. I can only imagine how much it will cost, but I know it will surely be a burden for many.
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I am aware of the backlash Netflix will face after this change goes live. The company has acknowledged that it expects some “cancel reaction” in all markets. But at the same time, I can understand why Netflix is making this move. After all, having users pay for additional accounts will likely result in “improved overall revenue” in the long term.
In countries where Netflix has implemented this change, it doesn’t block users from sharing passwords to access someone else’s account. Instead, it requires them to enter a verification code sent to the primary account holder. Users can access the shared account after entering the verification code but it keeps showing prompts until the add-on fee.
As a regular Netflix user, I can say that this change will affect my usage and budget. I hope that Netflix will offer reasonable pricing options and not overcharge its users. Only time will tell how this move will play out, but it’s safe to say that the future of password sharing on Netflix looks uncertain.
