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Netflix

Netflix’s New ‘Add a Home’ Feature Charges Users for Password Sharing


In the not-too-distant future, we will look back and reminisce about the magic of Netflix password sharing. With a tear dripping down our cheek, we will tell the younger generations of the good old days when one account sustained the content needs of a family or friendship group. Yet sadly, it seems we don’t have much time left, with the streamer testing a new “add a home” feature that charges users an additional fee to share their login details.

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Netflix

Image: Alexander Borisenko

In a statement shared yesterday, Chengyi Long –Netflix’s Director of Growth Product Innovation – said “widespread account sharing” has the potential to thwart the company’s long-term objectives. “Over the last 15 years, we’ve worked hard to build a streaming service that’s easy to use, including for people who travel or live together,” the statement read. “It’s great that our members love Netflix movies and TV shows so much they want to share them more broadly. But today’s widespread account sharing between households undermines our long-term ability to invest in and improve our service.”

The “Add a Home” feature will be rolled out next month in Argentina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Netflix said users can expect to cough up more cash to purchase password access for “additional homes”, leading to a higher monthly fee per month. Basic Plan subscribers will only be allowed to add a single extra home, while those on a Standard and Premium plan can add up to two and up to three, respectively.

At this stage, its unknown whether the feature will be launched in the US or other countries across the globe. The statement from Netflix did say similar changes will not be made in other regions” “until we better understand what’s easiest for our members”.

Similar tests were announced earlier this year, taking place in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru (South America is really drawing the short straw). In a company blogpost titled Paying to Share Netflix Outside Your Household, Long explained why Netflix is implementing the new fee system, writing,” “accounts are being shared between households — impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members.”

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