The days of Netflix password sharing are over, as the streaming service cracks down on password-sharing as part of its efforts to make itself more profitable.
It’s being reported by multiple outlets that Australian Nbetflix subscribers will be emailed about their IP address being used to determine whether all of the account users live under the same roof. If someone is using the account from another location. they’ll be booted off.
A new payment plan will allow users to add an “extra member” to standard or premium plans for an additional $7.99 a month. Depending on the plan, up to two users will be able to get cheaper access to their own Netflix account on one device in another location.
In January this year, the steaming network says more than 100 million Netflix viewers watch content using passwords they “borrowed” from someone else. According to Netflix’s site, an account is meant only “for people who live together in a single household”.
It’s not unreasonable to want to know what you’re getting into… Right? #QueenCharlotte pic.twitter.com/bC8YFi0Evn
— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) May 22, 2023
“While our terms of use limit use of Netflix to a household, we recognise this is a change for members who share their account more broadly,” Netflix said in its report to shareholders.
“As we roll out paid sharing, members in many countries will also have the option to pay extra if they want to share Netflix with people they don’t live with. As is the case today, all members will be able to watch while travelling, whether on a TV or mobile device.”
The password-sharing crackdown follows Netflix’s new Basic with Ads plan offering that costs Australian subscribers $6.99 a month — a four-dollar drop from the $10.99 Basic plan — and sees ads embedded into the streaming content.
Related: The Ad-Supported Netflix Subscription Will Launch in November
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So, with the end of Netflix password sharing nearing, we thought it worth sharing everything we know so far, getting you ready for what’s to come.
When Will Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown Happen?
Netflix had already been trialling the crackdown on password sharing in Latin America, but this week announced it was being rolled out in the US and 100 other countries.
The countries where it was trialled included Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which were specifically targeted because password sharing appears to be particularly common there.
Netflix also brought in the subscription changes in Canada and New Zealand in February.
How Will Netflix Stop Password Sharing?
The best way we can ascertain how Netflix will stop password sharing is by looking at the information it’s published on the topic already. In its help section, the service says it uses “information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity from devices signed into the Netflix account”.
If you’re not familiar with an IP address (it looks something like “192.0.1.1”), it’s a way to identify your device’s location both on your network and the internet. Some people currently use VPN services to hide their IP address to watch content that’s not supposed to be streaming in their country.
How Will Paid Netflix Password Sharing Work?
The trial in Latin American countries saw users paying an extra fee per month for additional accounts on one password. The Guardian predicts the cost to be AU$4 extra a month.
“Subscribers had no restrictions placed on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops, to enable legitimate users to still access their accounts while travelling,” the publication writes.
“But the new system may put an end to logging into your account to watch a Netflix show at a friend’s or relative’s house, as well as sharing a single subscription across multiple houses.”
Also good to know: subscribers will be able to remove unwanted households from their accounts. So, if you want to boot your friend’s cousin’s daughter off your account, you’ll now easily be able to.
What Are Some Ways Around Netflix Password Sharing?
Fortunately, if you’re someone who password shares with friends, family, or your ex who has no idea, there are some ways you can get around the crackdown. Netflix is currently offering a device verification method for those who believe they were erroneously flagged to be password sharing.
According to Netflix’s help section, it will email a four-digit verification code to the account holder. The person using the account will then have to input that code in the next 15 minutes. So, if you do want to keep password sharing, you could just get the person whose account it is to read you the code.
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