Photo: Unsplash
Have you been using a friend’s Netflix account? Or perhaps you’re a student living away from your family and of course, you didn’t get your own account. Whatever the case may be, Netflix is coming for you and your unpaid access to entertainment. The streaming giant is no longer allowing users to share passwords in the UAE, a policy that is being rolled out worldwide in a bid to increase profits and users.
The crackdown on password sharing comes in the wake of the company losing subscribers for the first time in 10 years. There is also the fact that revenue has been dwindling recently as the market becomes increasingly competitive. With platforms like Disney Plus, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime becoming increasingly popular, Netflix no longer enjoys a monopoly in the streaming industry. This is why a company that did not seem to worry too much about password sharing in the past is now focused on eliminating it entirely.
After successfully rolling out the crackdown in several countries including the US, the limitation is now coming to the UAE. While users will no longer be able to share passwords externally, those within the same household can still do so. In order to determine whether a user actually belongs to the primary account holder’s household, Netflix uses a combination of device IDs, IP addresses, and “account activity from devices signed into the Netflix account.” Verification could also include inputting a code sent to the account owner.
Luckily, the technology behind the process allows users to access their accounts while traveling or when in a different locations locally. In order to make the transition easier, Netflix will also allow the transfer of profiles to new accounts once the crackdown has been implemented so that users do not lose their history and personalized recommendations. An additional feature allows the account owner to add a member outside the household for $7.99 per month.
Are you ready to let go of password sharing? Even if the answer to that question is no, it’s time to start preparing for Netflix to email you about the change in policy pretty soon. As the email states, “Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with – your household.”
Read Next:
