Netflix to Begin Cracking Down on Password Sharing in Early 2023

[now i see it]

Its like the millions of people who used to to use pirated Adobe software. If we could get it for free, we’d use it. But if we had to pay for it - no dice.
Same with Netflix. Those 100 million freeloaders aren’t going to become paying customers. If the freebies stop, they’ll find some other free distraction.

 

[George Dawes]

I hardly use it . the picture quality is very poor on my atv 4k and I've read where even oled owners complain of blooming due to inherent problems with the app

So many superior alternatives

 

[rillrill]

Well we have 4 households sharing the same Netflix account since we all are on the same t-mobile family plan that includes free Netflix.

So I won’t even blink over $3 to continue using it.

See, I look at this differently. If it's a shared family plan that everyone pays into, then everyone should be able to use the Netflix account.

 

[blacktape242]

Good luck with that.....

 

[hinrgmike]

I'm assuming the device tracking means that if one travels with their Firestick or whatever and plug it in at hotels and Airbnbs, then even if the IP changes, the registered device will be allowed?

Of course, some hotels and airbnbs have setup where one just logs into their Netflix account on their device and then logs out and erases it when departing. I try not to use this feature and take my own but every so often there is no easy choice. These would not have device ID or IPs that correspond to the user's home, so curious how they manage that. If they block that off, then I'd probably flush my Netflix account even though I never share it outside our household. Hopefully, they have some tolerance in their plan for occasional trips somehow.

 

[NMBob]

I wonder how many people who pay full price for their subscription now will find someone else with a plan to pay $3/month to in order to get a "legal" account for much, much less. If anything this might encourage legal sharing among people who weren't sharing before.

Good idea. One apartment pays full and all the other apartments "share" the account for three bucks each.

 

[gaximus]

I'm curious to see how this works, It might be worth the price for some, if they can share the account, but not worth it for just them. This could cause more subscriber loss, but then there are probably some that get their own account because they want/need some of the content.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Netflix will be the next Blockbuster. Charging extra for 4k, constant price increases, now restrictions on password sharing. They are enjoying a little bump because of Wednesday but that wont last.

Netflix won't be the only one. Eventually people will get tired of all the different subscription services. There are too many options for free TV/Movies and TV Shows to stream. I tried Apple TV+ and canceled the 3 month trial within a couple weeks. Most of these subscription services are still competing with OTA TV.

 

[Kar98]

How? Those people aren't paying them anyways. Removing people who aren't paying doesn't cost them anything.

In fact, those people are using bandwidth, which costs Netflix money. Removing them saves them money.

Unless the paying account owner says "nuts to this, there's only garbage on anyway", and cancels.
Netflix could have saved themselves a lot of money by skipping on all that "rOyALs" nonsense.

 

[Valbunny]

Netflix won't be the only one. Eventually people will get tired of all the different subscription services. There are too many options for free TV/Movies and TV Shows to stream. I tried Apple TV+ and canceled the 3 month trial within a couple weeks. Most of these subscription services are still competing with OTA TV.

Honestly, its amazing how much stuff you can find for free. I watch a lot of OTA, free TV streaming like Pluto TV/Tubi, then pay for Hulu, Disney, and ESPN +. $15 for more than I can even deal with, and can find tooons of free movies/tv shows.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Its like the millions of people who used to to use pirated Adobe software. If we could get it for free, we’d use it. But if we had to pay for it - no dice.
Same with Netflix. Those 100 million freeloaders aren’t going to become paying customers. If the freebies stop, they’ll find some other free distraction.

With the major price hikes in Cable and Satellite fees they'll pay the ad space driven version easily.

 

[Kar98]

Its like the millions of people who used to to use pirated Adobe software. If we could get it for free, we’d use it. But if we had to pay for it - no dice. ...

If we could have gotten it at a reasonable price. But you're not even allowed to buy a used older version, you MUST buy the monthly sub.

 

[boss.king]

I'm not sure how I feel about Netflix spying through IP addresses, and device IDs. What happens if you use a VPN? How are they going to crack that down?

Netflix already freaks out with some VPNs. My parents used to use my account with one and it made me reset my password whenever they logged in.

 

[Kevin2055]

How? Those people aren't paying them anyways. Removing people who aren't paying doesn't cost them anything.

In fact, those people are using bandwidth, which costs Netflix money. Removing them saves them money.

They are paying in fact, not only password is shared, subscription fee is also shared.

 

[RouterCFW]

get the ship ready to sail time to steal some content

 

[fmillion]

I thought at one time Netflix had said they weren't going to be looking at mobile devices (at least as closely)? Like I swear I read this was mostly focused on people viewing on TVs.

The idea is that a mobile device can and does move around, but a TV generally does not. So if it's being used on two TVs at two different physical households, it's very clear it's being used by people who don't live together. But people take their mobile devices everywhere, so tracking a user by IP on a mobile device just wouldn't work (at least for determining who's sharing accounts).

So, maybe the workaround will be to just use an old phone and connect it to your TV with HDMI...?

 

[ghanwani]

What is Netflix?

 

[TwistedGleam]

I canceled my Netflix subscription years ago when the price went over $10. Now I’m just laughing at this.

 

[citysnaps]

Excellent news.

 

[citysnaps]

Please define "household" . I have kids in college in another state. They are still a part of my "household", according to the IRS.

Hopefully a single physical address.

 

[randolorian]

this would be better described as account sharing instead of password sharing.

 

[usagora]

They will lose a lot of money

They're already losing it from dishonest people sharing their passwords with people who aren't authorized to use the account. That's the whole point of cracking down. You can't lose money by losing non-paying customers, because they weren't paying anything anyway 🙄

 

[hans1972]

Please define "household" . I have kids in college in another state. They are still a part of my "household", according to the IRS.

If I ask your kids if they're living with their parents, what would they answer?

 

[Pezimak]

Excellent, I certainly will not pay full price for it. And neither will many others. It’ll be their loss. They should reduce pricing to invite more people to subscribe, not increase prices.

Hmm just read the bit about paying 3 dollars more to share a login. Well that‘s only worth it if you get the same full access and 4K content for those 3 dollars, but the story doesn’t mention that?

 

[Shirasaki]

I highly doubt netflix crackdown would achieve the desired effect, given they just don’t understand the reason why people share their account. Instead of improving services, they chase after people “pirating their content”.

Netflix days are numbered.