Netflix is testing the ability to share accounts and make users pay for unauthorized viewing

Video streaming services such as Netflix allow unlimited viewing of content by paying a monthly fee, but some users try to watch without paying the usage fee by having family and friends share the password. . In order to counter these users, it was officially announced that Netflix is testing ``a function that allows users who share accounts to illegally view to pay.''

About Netflix - Paying to Share Netflix Outside Your Household
https://about.netflix.com/en/news/paying-to-share-netflix-outside-your-household

Netflix Test Will Let Members Pay for Password-Sharing Users - Variety
https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/netflix-subscribers-pay-users-outside-households-1235206575/

Netflix is testing ways to end password sharing and push viewers to pay extra - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/16/22981283/netflix-password-sharing-test-multiple-streams

On March 16, 2022, Chengyi Long, director of product innovation at Netflix, made a new announcement on 'password sharing on Netflix'. Netflix has three price plans, Basic, Standard, and Premium, of which Standard and Premium allow simultaneous viewing on multiple screens. In other words, it is a paid plan designed on the premise that multiple people share an account. Therefore, the standard and premium plans are particularly popular, and it is believed that they are used by sharing accounts with families. However, Mr. Long points out that ``when accounts can be shared'' is ambiguous, causing confusion and unintended account sharing by Netflix.

Therefore, Netflix has been working on creating options that allow users who share accounts with people other than family members to easily and safely participate in account sharing. Over the next few weeks, we will release and test the following two new features for users in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru.

◆Adding sub-accounts
Both Standard and Premium plan members will be able to add up to two sub-accounts for people who do not live together. By creating a subaccount, you can use your own profile, personalized recommendation function, login password. In addition, an additional charge of 2380 Chilean pesos (about 350 yen) in Chile, $ 2.99 (about 360 yen) in Costa Rica, and 7.9 sol (about 250 yen) in Peru is required to add a subaccount.

◆ Transfer profile to new account
All Basic, Standard, and Premium plans will now be able to transfer profile information to a new account or sub-account for users who share an account. Profile information includes viewing history, My List, and personalized recommendations.

Regarding the two new features added to stop account sharing with people other than family members, overseas media The Verge said, ``The growth of Netflix's paying subscribers has peaked, so how can we increase it? This measure is probably one of the results of our strategic thinking.'

In addition, Netflix announced a plan price increase in the United States in January 2022 in order to increase revenue without increasing the number of members, and it has been pointed out that this may spread to Japan.

Netflix raises all plans in North America and spreads to Japan - GIGAZINE