Netflix’s long-awaited crackdown on password sharing is finally coming to the US, the streamer said Tuesday.
Netflix originally planned to roll out “payment sharing,” an update designed to turn account sharers into paying users, sometime in the first quarter of 2023. However, the company now says it will introduce that change a bit later, sometime before June. 30, 2023.
The update is not limited to the US, Netflix added: “We are planning a wide release, including in the US, in the second quarter.”
Netflix’s quest to boost revenue by curbing password sharing began at the beginning of this year in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. In these countries, Netflix now requires paying users to set a “primary location” for their account. When someone you don’t live with uses your account, Netflix has started asking them to “buy an additional member” — up to two. The additional fee varies by country; for example, it costs CAD 7.99 in Canada and €3.99 in Portugal.
Netflix has launched this plan for years. On Tuesday, the company told investors that it believes the change will “result in a better outcome for both our members and our business.” The streaming giant has recently credited the change as an opportunity to clear up “the confusion around when and how you can share Netflix”, but make no mistake, this is a strong move.