Netflix has quickly become one of the most popular streaming sites in the world, now expanding its services to gaming as well. However, it’s facing more competition from Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video than ever. This could mean that changes are on the horizon regarding password sharing.
In a recent blog post, Netflix announced that they are testing a new ‘Add an Extra Member’ feature. This means that Netflix may start charging users an extra $3 to add a member outside their household. Currently, users on the Standard and Premium plans can watch Netflix on between two and four screens simultaneously. This had led to users sharing their passwords with friends and family from outside their households.
Instead of getting in new clients, users are simply sharing their account details. Netflix explains that this might affect their ability to continue producing and providing quality content, films, and television in the long run. The solutions they are testing will mean users can add members outside their household for a largely reduced $3 extra a month.
Netflix has always made it easy for users who live together to share their passwords so that other household members can create their profiles. This enabled households to create separate profiles and multiple streams. However, this also caused some confusion as to how your account could be used. Netflix was never meant to be shared outside of a household, although that’s what most users are doing now.
This feature is currently being tested in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. Depending on how things go, Netflix will decide whether they want to expand this feature to the rest of the world. We wonder if we’ll be seeing a ban on password sharing outside of your household soon. Perhaps this is why Netflix lost some of its market share towards the start of 2021.
