Netflix has deleted the recently updated password sharing rules which were designed to prevent many users from using the same account. The new measures were announced in January and were set to be implemented in the first half of 2023. As account sharing has always been a common practice among Netflix users, the company has decided to take steps to reduce the number of people sharing a single account. The new rules were aimed at encouraging users to subscribe to the service individually, thereby increasing the number of subscribers and improving the overall revenue for the company.
According to Streamable, these new guidelines were quickly removed from the company's official website just a few days after they were announced. A spokesperson from Netflix clarified that the rules were not intended to apply to the United States and that a mistake was made in posting information meant only for Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru to other countries. The spokesperson assured that the mistake has since been corrected.
"For a brief time yesterday, a help center article containing information that is only applicable to Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, went live in other countries," the spokesperson said, adding, "We have since updated it."
The implementation of the new rules will begin in several Latin American countries as a test before being rolled out worldwide. This was done to assess the impact of the new measures and make any necessary adjustments before rolling it out. Despite the potential consequences, such as subscription cancelations, Netflix believes that the long-term benefits of the new rules will outweigh the short-term losses. By reducing the number of people sharing a single account, the company believes it will be able to increase its revenue and provide better content and services to its subscribers.
Netflix to Cracks Down on Account Sharing
Gone are the days when "Love is sharing a password," as Netflix is now set to implement measures to prevent account sharing with people outside of one's household. To enforce this, Netflix will require users to connect to the Wi-Fi at their "primary location" at least once every 31 days. If users fail to do so, their account will be blocked. This change could create difficulties for users who share accounts with friends and family who do not live with them. The situation becomes more complicated when it comes to using Netflix while traveling. If users sign in to their account from a location outside their home, their device may be blocked from Netflix. However, users can request a temporary code from the service when signing in, which will grant them access for seven consecutive days.
In addition to the difficulties of account sharing, even keeping an individual Netflix account active could become an issue. Users will now need to sign in to their accounts once every 31 days to avoid being blocked. Netflix will mark a user's home device as "trusted" as long as they keep up with the 31-day sign-in requirement. If a user watches a series and then doesn't come back to Netflix for more than 31 days, they will need to contact the company to have their account unblocked.
Netflix's new account sharing policies show the company's effort to stay ahead of the competition in the rapidly expanding world of streaming services. However, the measures may not sit well with all users, as the additional restrictions and sign-in requirements may prove to be more hassle than convenience.