Many Netflix subscribers have hit out at the streaming service after being informed of a major ban on password-sharing. It comes as thousands of account holders in the UK are set to receive an email today (May 24) that'll inform subscribers of potentially losing access to their account amid the streaming service's crackdown on password sharing.
Emails will be sent to anyone who is sharing an account with someone who doesn't live in the same household. People who are not the main account holders and who do not live in the same home will lose access, as Netflix states that an account is intended for a single household.
But subscribers can enable an individual outside their household to watch via their account by paying an additional £4.99 a month. Users will not be charged this automatically and only start paying it should they decide to opt-in for this option.
On Twitter, OneOfSix6 threatened to leave, writing: "Do it and I'm gone @netflix." Ivnscp simply put: "Cancelled." CraigBeck admitted: "Netflix is a borderline thing for me, anyway. Awful content, too lazy to cancel. BUT this will push me over the edge."
Ziggy28Iqbal urged: "Sharing is caring.. share the love." 1962GDM argued: "Like most things these days people will cancel it, this world is fed up of poor value for money." MKMayday added: "I'm Paying for it ! Give it to who I like !"
Mdbholmes penned: "Ah good I finally have the excuse to unsub I've been looking for." Others took the new crackdown as an opportunity to highlight a tweet Netflix posted on its official account back in 2017.
"Love is an addiction... Love is sharing a password," the tweets read. Uno jokingly replied back to the re-surfaced tweet with a GIF of its 'reverse Uno' card, in reference to the apparent U-turn decision.
Netflix released a statement stating: "Starting today, we will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in the United Kingdom. A Netflix account is for use by one household.
"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."
Previously, Netflix told users sharing passwords with others outside their households was not allowed. However, many users disregarded this guideline and shared their account details with friends and family to save money.
Following the tighter rules, users in Canada can add an extra member to their account as a 'sub account' for CAD$7.99 (£4.78). While the same can be done in New Zealand, but it'll cost subscribers NZ$7.99 (£3.97).
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Meanwhile, in Portugal the amount to do this stands at €3.99 (£3.51), while Spain customers must spend €5.99 (£5.27). The news comes after a trial last year in countries including Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
