Netflix's controversial password-sharing crackdown rattles US users

Image credit : Netflix Help Center Netflix will eventually begin charging U.S. subscribers for sharing their accounts with individuals outside of their households after teasing users for more than a year. On Tuesday, Netflix disclosed that it would start sending emails to account holders informing them of the change that may have an impact on them as of right now. Accounts having "extra members" may be charged $7.99 a month for each additional member to prevent account termination. "A Netflix account is for use by one household," the blog post states. "Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday — and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices." The letter sent to account holders includes information on how users can manage their accounts, including the new Transfer Profile feature that was released last year as a simple way to assist additional members preserve their unique preferences and recommendations when they are thrown off someone else's account. However, there are some constraints if customers want to keep the additional members on their accounts. The less expensive plans, such as the Basic and Standard with Ads, do not allow users to add more members to their accounts. However, Standard and Premium subscribers can add a maximum of one or two more members. Once established, these users will effectively have their own accounts and passwords, but the main account holder will be responsible for paying for their subscription. Overall, it's less expensive than having their own independent, unconnected account because both supported plans range in price from $15.49 to more. But in any case, you're giving Netflix more cash "to invest heavily in a wide variety of new films and TV shows," to use the company's words. [caption id="attachment_175859" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image credit : WSJ[/caption] The service provides instructions on how to set up a household, which is based on an IP address, and users inside a household can use the account while travelling. Given the service's ongoing price increases and cancellation of fan favorite shows, the decision to crack down on password sharing has generated considerable controversy, to say the least. The change was made public after Netflix's service had its first decline in members in early 2022, which may have served as a wake-up call. The business later introduced a less expensive, ad-supported tier in an effort to lure consumers back to the service. Following a series of experiments carried out in various Latin American nations last year, it started charging for additional members in some countries earlier this year. Also read : Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown Reportedly Results in 1 Million Canceled Accounts The letter sent to account holders includes information on how users can manage their accounts, including the new Transfer Profile feature that was released last year as a simple way to assist additional members preserve their unique preferences and recommendations when they are thrown off someone else's account.