Netflix, the world’s leading streaming service, has made a bold move by putting an end to password-sharing. This change, which started in May 2023, has affected users in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries.
What Does This Mean for Netflix Users?
Under the new rules, a Netflix account is supposed to be used only by people living in the same house. If you want to share your account with someone who doesn’t live with you, you’ll have to pay extra. In the US, it costs $7.99 per month to add a person outside your household to your account.
Why Did Netflix Do This?
Netflix wants to make more money and thinks that too many people are sharing passwords instead of paying for their own accounts. By stopping password-sharing, Netflix hopes that more people will sign up and pay for the service.
Has It Worked?
Since the crackdown, a lot of people have decided to get their own Netflix accounts instead of stopping watching. This has led to a big jump in the number of people signing up for Netflix. However, some people are not happy because Netflix has also raised prices and admitted that it makes too many movies that aren’t very good.
What About Other Streaming Services?
Other big streaming companies like Disney+ are planning to do the same thing as Netflix and stop password-sharing soon. This could mean that in the future, more people will have to pay for their own accounts to watch their favorite shows and movies online.
How Will Netflix Know If You’re Sharing Your Password?
Netflix is using things like IP addresses (the unique number that identifies your internet connection) and information about the devices you use to watch Netflix to figure out if people are sharing passwords outside their household. However, they’re not telling everyone exactly how they’re doing this to stop people from finding ways around the rules.
The Bottom Line
Netflix’s decision to stop password-sharing is a big change for the streaming world. It means more money for Netflix, but also some unhappy customers who have to pay more or get their own accounts. As other streaming services follow Netflix’s lead, the days of easily sharing your password with friends and family seem to be coming to an end.
