If you are among the approximately 100 million people who watch Netflix by using a borrowed password, the streaming-service provider is about to pull the plug on your fun.
Sometime in 2023 — probably early in the year — Netflix will begin cracking down on password sharing, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
In a widely reported comment, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged to investors in December that viewers were likely to chafe at the change:
“Make no mistake, I don’t think consumers are going to love it right out of the gate.”
So, why is Netflix cracking down on password sharing? The WSJ reports that growth is slowing at Netflix, particularly in the U.S. Reducing password sharing is seen as a way to combat that trend.
Netflix might roll out the password-sharing crackdown gradually in an effort to tamp down controversy over the move, the WSJ reports.
‘The company’s website says passwords should only be shared by people who live in the same household. It states:
“People who do not live in your household will need to use their own account to watch Netflix.”
For now, at least, the website also says that Netflix “will not automatically charge you if you share your account with someone who doesn’t live with you.”
If you don’t want to pay the standard fee for Netflix, you can get a price break by agreeing to watch the service with ads.
Ad-free Netflix plans are available for $9.99, $15.49 and $19.99 a month. However, Netflix recently rolled out an ad-supported plan for $6.99 a month.
Or, if you are willing to drop Netflix altogether, you can switch to low-cost or free streaming services. For more, check out: