By John Ikani
The end is nigh for Netflix password sharers, as the streaming giant has announced plans to put a stop to account sharing by the end of March.
Brace yourself streamers as this change is sure to shake things up!
According to a letter sent to shareholders, “widespread account sharing” has surpassed 100 million viewers, and the company feels that this is undermining their ability to invest in and improve Netflix, as well as build their business.
But before you start mourning the loss of your shared account, there is a glimmer of hope.
Users who are currently sharing an account, will have the option to transfer their profiles to a new paid account, so they can keep all of their preferences and watch history.
Netflix is aware that this change may cause some users to cancel their subscriptions, but they are confident that engagement will grow, as they continue to offer a diverse slate of programming and more users sign up for their own accounts.
This move towards cracking down on password sharing is just one of the ways Netflix is working to increase revenue while still catering for consumers.
In November of 2022, the company introduced a “Basic with Ads” option for $6.99 a month, as well as plans for a paid sharing option for multiple users on the same account.
Under the new rules, users will have to create their own logins and pay for their own access.
Testing for this paid sharing option is already underway, with a platform-wide rollout expected by the end of March.
So, if you’re currently using someone else’s account to access Netflix, it’s time to start thinking about getting your own subscription, or sharing the love and opting for the paid sharing option, which will allow multiple users but cost less than a full subscription.
This new option comes if people wish to share their Netflix account with friends and family living elsewhere, without feeling the guilt of freeloading.
It’s the end of an era folks, but the future of streaming looks brighter than ever.
