The day has finally come; Netflix has officially rolled out its anti-password sharing method across all of its operating regions, and safe to say fans aren’t happy. At all.
When Netflix announced last year that it would introduce new measures to tackle sharing account passwords across all regions, fans were understandably outraged.
this is such a wild decision by Netflix lmao like, they’re aware of long distance relationships, kids in college, and poor people right? pic.twitter.com/ffzqAhwdWb
— Bugs Maytrix 💗🖤💗 (50% off) (@bugsmaytrix) February 1, 2023
We’re all “guilty” of it; a friend or family member pays for an account that several of us share or the price shared between us. For many, it’s a convenience; for others who cannot afford the subscription fee (which has significantly risen since the platform first became available), it’s the only way to access its content.
In a bid to boost falling profits, the streaming service will be putting measures in place that require each household to have its own password.
netflix is funny as hell like no college student is about to pay for a separate netflix account sorry i’m just deleting the app & going somewhere else
— mother earth🧃 (@nonbinarybooty) February 1, 2023
How does this work exactly? Well, as per the Netflix updated Help Center documents: “To ensure uninterrupted access to Netflix, connect to the Wi-Fi at your primary location, open the Netflix app or website, and watch something at least once every 31 days,
This creates a trusted device so you can watch Netflix, even when you’re away from your primary location. If you’re traveling, you’ll be able to watch Netflix simply by logging into your account. But if you’re away for an “extended period of time” — presumably, more than 31 days — Netflix says that “your device may be blocked from watching Netflix.”
Netflix users are understandably pissed off, having utilized the platform using shared passwords since its launch in 2007 – leaving many of us wondering 16 years later; why?
As these measures come online across the globe, social media reactions are in, and, you can see for yourself that they’re far from positive.
Cancel Netflix. They just lost my business. “Password-sharing” is not a thing, it’s called password-using. This is regressive bullshit borne out of capitalist greed to squeeze more money out of us. People paid for a password and they use it wherever they go.
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) February 1, 2023
Many users claim that they will delete their accounts altogether rather than fund what they feel is a selfish and baseless change. Others set their sights on Pirate Bay and other torrenting sites, sharing that they’d rather pirate films and TV than support these restrictive measures.
A recurring thought across Twitter is that the current offering of content on Netflix is too lackluster for such change to be warranted, which could spell good business for services such as HBO, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.
thanks to netflix everyone born after 1998 is about to learn what a torrent is.
— Ally Maynard (@missmayn) February 1, 2023
Clearly, fans across the globe share in common outrage. Whether or not Netflix will choose to hear their customers on backtrack on these changes is yet to be seen, but right now, don’t hold your breath.
Seeing so many people shut out of the opportunity to find, share, and enjoy new forms of media is a massive shame and a huge slap in the face for those less privileged or even those simply traveling away from home.
With streaming services already coming at a high personal cost during a cost-of-living crisis, restrictions and locks on access to content will see more people are closed off from media consumption – or choose to pirate it, to the detriment of everyone involved in creating it.
We can only hope that Netflix sees some sense. Until then, enjoy the memes.
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