An End to Netflix Password-Sharing

In many familial and friendly social circles, it has become a custom to share passwords to different streaming services to expand the viewing options. However, this system that people have come up with may not be sustainable for much longer. Netflix is starting to crack down on password sharing.

The company recently announced on Tuesday that they are rolling out emails to customers about sharing their passwords with people who live outside of their immediate household. The email states “Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with – your household.”

Netflix took into account people’s show progress and history and have made it so that subscribers can transfer profiles to their respective users outside of the household. This way that person can then pay for it like another subscriber. However, if the users wish to keep everything on the same account, they can add an extra member on for an extra $7.99 a month.

With an estimated more than 100 million households around world sharing a Netflix account, the streaming platform has already started its crackdown in other countries such as Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and Canada earlier.

Even with a net increase of 1.75 million subscribers in the first quarter, the company is still $3 million below the projected amount. With these new password sharing restrictions being put in place, it will be interesting to see how it affects the company and other streaming services moving forward.