Netflix has revoked the password-sharing restrictions that were mistakenly displayed on its platform and have recently implemented another round of changes to its password-sharing policy, following user backlash. The popular streaming platform has been cracking down on password sharing for several years, in an effort to prevent unauthorized access to its content.
The latest change came just last week and is the latest in a series of moves by Netflix to tighten its password sharing rules.
This time Netflix making it even more difficult for users to share their accounts with others. The new policy limits the number of devices that can be used to stream content from a single account and requires users to regularly change their passwords.
These latest changes to the password-sharing policy have been met with mixed reactions from Netflix users. Some believe that the company is justified in cracking down on password sharing, as it helps to protect the integrity of its content and prevent unauthorized access. Others, however, feel that the new restrictions are too harsh and will hurt the overall user experience.
On February 2, 2023, Netflix addressed the situation, explaining that the information was a mistake. According to a Netflix spokesperson, “A help center article with information specific to Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru was mistakenly published in other countries, but has since been updated.”
Earlier this week, the streamer updated its rules for sharing passwords on its Help Center Page. It noted that one’s “Netflix account is for people who live together in a single household”. Netflix further specified that “people who do not live in your household will need to use their own account to watch Netflix”.
Therefore, Netflix customers must select a “main location” for all of their accounts, even if they reside in the same household. To ensure that their device is not blocked, users must log in to the main location’s home wifi network at least once every 31 days.
Netflix will determine whether a device logged into the account is connected to the main location by evaluating information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity. The account may be disabled if it is frequently accessed from a location other than the main one, or if it is used to log in from a device that is not part of the main location.
The primary account holder must validate the device by entering a temporary code. After verification, the traveling member will have uninterrupted access to Netflix for a full week.
It is, however, not clear if additional temporary codes can be obtained beyond the first seven days to avoid purchasing another account.
To further add, Netflix has been testing out “paid sharing” in the three countries where an account holder is required to pay for an extra person (identified as someone who lives outside of the account holder’s home) to access service. In Costa Rica, the added fee costs $2.99 (£2.44) a month.
The change resulted in significant pushback, with some subscribers threatening to cancel their subscriptions.
Do you have inquiries about recent advancements and newly introduced features on Netflix? Let us know!
This move was met with widespread criticism from users, who felt that the new rules were too restrictive and made it difficult for families to share a single account. Despite the backlash, Netflix has persisted in its efforts to prevent password sharing.
Regardless of how users feel about the new changes, it is clear that Netflix is taking a firm stance on password sharing. With its growing user base and increasing competition from other streaming platforms, it is likely that the company will continue to crack down on password sharing in the coming years.
