Netflix has deleted its new password sharing rules that were recently updated to discourage multiple people from using the same account.
According to Streamable, streaming giant Netflix has removed its new rules from the official website despite announcing the change only a few days ago. A Netflix spokesperson clarified that the new guidelines are not applicable to the United States yet. "For a brief time yesterday, a help center article containing information that is only applicable to Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, went live in other countries," the spokesperson said, adding, "We have since updated it."
Further, the spokesperson also explained that the organization would not roll out such a major change without sharing all its details with customers first. In January, Netflix made an official announcement confirming that the password sharing crackdown would be implemented in the first half of 2023. The staggered rollout of the new rules began in many Latin American countries, in a bid to find suitable solutions before making it mandatory for the rest of the world. The streamer is aware that many users may cancel their subscription because of these measures, but estimates that they will increase revenue for the company in the long run.
Concerns Over Netflix's New Rules
People were quick to call out Netflix when the official domestic Help Center released new protocols outlining that all subscribers will soon have to verify their home devices every month to ensure uninterrupted service. Additionally, the guidelines specified that any device outside a household would be blocked by Netflix. The move was instantly criticized for being unnecessarily inconvenient, especially for those who travel frequently and for college students.
In an earlier announcement, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters commented on why multiple users share the same account, saying, "I think there’s a range of motivations for different borrowers. So some of it is economically driven and so a part of what we’re trying to do is that we are being responsive to that and finding the right price points, whether in terms of an individual account or an extra member affordance."
Peters also highlighted how the new system was specifically designed in response to users who were not paying for the service. According to Peters, the curb on password sharing will give this set of users "a nudge" to transition into creating their own account faster. Though the new password sharing rules are only being tested in select countries, they are expected to launch in many more regions by the end of March 2023.
Source: Streamable