If your ex or old roommate is still using your Netflix account, or if you, like me, share multiple streaming accounts with family and close friends to save money, this is bad news.
(Family members who live hundreds of miles away share my Netflix account.)
There was a lot of confusion Wednesday when Netflix’s help page for U.S. customers showed information for countries where the company has tested paid password sharing.
“Yesterday, a help center article that only applies to Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru went live in other countries for a short time. Since then, we’ve changed it, “A Netflix representative told USA Today in an email on Thursday. READ MORE–WHO WILL WIN SUNDAY’S GRAMMYS BATTLE BETWEEN BEYONCÉ AND ADELE, AND WHO SHOULD?
So how will Netflix’s new policy in the U.S. be enforced, and how much will it cost us?
Does Netflix stop people from sharing passwords?
For U.S. customers, Netflix has not yet changed its rules about sharing passwords. The company said last month that it wants to make it easier to share passwords by March 31, which is the end of the first quarter.
Netflix’s help page for U.S. customers says, “People who don’t live in your household will need their own account to watch Netflix.”
The company first said it would take steps to stop people from sharing passwords last year.
In an earnings report, Netflix said, “The fact that 100 million or more households share accounts today hurts our ability to invest in and improve Netflix and grow our business in the long run. READ MORE–DEION SANDERS MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT WITH COLORADO’S MASSIVE FIRST RECRUITING CLASS.
Will Netflix start charging for password sharing?
Since the beginning of last year, Netflix has been testing a model of paid sharing in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru.
In a letter to shareholders, the company said it plans to start paid sharing “more broadly” by the end of March, but it hasn’t said how much it will cost or when it will start.
Can I let family who live in a different house use my Netflix account?
Netflix’s FAQ page says that people with a Standard or Premium plan in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru “can share Netflix with someone who doesn’t live with them for less than the price of our Basic plan.”
In the letter, Netflix said, “As we roll out paid sharing, members in many countries will also be able to pay more if they want to share Netflix with people they don’t live with.”
How does Netflix know if your passwords are being shared?
Netflix says that it uses things like IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity to figure out which devices are in a home.
How much does Netflix cost each month now?
Netflix subscribers in the U.S. can choose from four plans:
- $6.99 a month for basic, with ads
- Simple: $9.99 a month
- $15.49 per month is the norm.
- $19.99 per month for Premium