Netflix, the world’s biggest streaming service provider, is cracking down on password sharing in the U.S. The company announced on Tuesday that it will start charging to keep extra people on your account. This is a move to try to recoup the revenue that Netflix loses from people who share their passwords with friends and family.
Netflix account sharing in the US will cost you extra bucks
Netflix has always allowed users to share their accounts with family and friends. However, the company is now changing its policy. Starting now, account owners will be charged for adding extra users to their accounts. And how much it will cost? It’s $8 each month for each extra user!
However, users on the Basic Plan can only add one extra user, while those on the Premium Plan can add up to two additional users at a cost of $8 each.
Users who don’t have anyone to share their account with can still access Netflix at a lower cost by subscribing to the ad-supported plan. The Basic and Standard ad-supported plans cost $9.99 and $6.99 per month, respectively. But, you cannot add extra users to these plans.
You will be notified
Netflix subscribers in the US who share their accounts with people “outside their household” will start receiving emails about the company’s password-sharing policies on Tuesday.
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The new policy allows subscribers to add up to two “extra members” to their account for a monthly fee. Extra members get their own profile and password, and they can watch Netflix on any device in the same country as the main subscriber. However, extra members can’t create additional profiles or log in as a Kid’s profile.
Netflix determines your “household” based on where you watch Netflix on a TV and the IP address of that device. You can change your household’s location by using the Netflix app on a TV or a device connected to a TV. To do this, select “Confirm or Update Your Household” and follow the instructions.
Netflix says, “ We use information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity to determine whether a device signed into your account is part of your Netflix Household. We do not collect GPS data to try to determine the precise physical location of your devices. If a Netflix Household hasn’t been set, we will automatically set one for you based on IP address, device IDs, and account activity. You can always update your Netflix Household from a TV by connecting to your internet and following the steps above.”
Moreover, the company says you can still watch Netflix when you travel, even on different Wi-Fi or a different device, like a hotel TV. However, you will need to verify your account ownership when you do this. This will be a problem for anyone who is currently sharing your password.
Netflix isn’t alone
Netflix is not the first streaming service to crack down on password sharing. Hulu and HBO Max both have similar policies in place. These policies typically involve requiring users to verify their accounts or pay a fee to share their passwords with others outside of their household.
t remains to be seen how effective these policies will be at reducing password sharing. Some users may simply cancel their subscriptions rather than pay the additional fee. Others may find ways to circumvent the verification process. However, it is clear that Netflix is serious about cracking down on this practice. The company has said that password sharing costs it billions of dollars each year. By cracking down on password sharing, Netflix hopes to increase its revenue and profitability.