Netflix Account Sharing Controversy

At the beginning of 2023, Netflix revealed a new and upcoming plan to “monetize account sharing.” There were rumors of two things they would do; Option number one was to charge extra money for sharing passwords. In the US & Canada, the cost of the Netflix basic plan rose from $8.99 per month to $9.99. The Premium plan, which increases the number of mobile devices that can access downloaded content, from $17.99 per month to $19.99. 

Option number two would be that every 30 days you’d have to re-login and also connect to your personal Wi-Fi, Which would be a hassle for many, and especially inconvenient for those who travel a lot. Along with this whole change, Netflix said it will average no more than four to five minutes of advertising each hour. Many users reacted to the news with threats to cancel or downgrade their service if Netflix begins expanding the test.

Most people use Netflix and watch it because it has some good and interesting options for shows, and movies. Sydney Oaks, a Junior at Central Highschool, and Waylon Demkov, a senior, agree that Netflix is slowly going downhill because they are getting rid of so many good shows and movies such as The Office, I’m Not Okay With This, The End of the F-ing World, Revenge, Mulan, Pocahontas, and many more Disney movies.

A lot of people agree that password sharing is really not that serious, and it’s very idiotic to try to stop. Some even say that Netflix is seeming a lot more like cable. Many said that they wouldn’t worry about the fees, because their parents pay for it and would continue to do so. If they could no longer watch Netflix. Sydney Oaks said that they would switch to Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV, Disney +, and HBO Max; others agreed with her, while some said they’d take the other route and watch it off of Soap2Day or YouTube.

Some people will stay devoted to Netflix, because of their Netflix Originals, and also their wide selection of old and new movies. Alex Mercer, a Senior at Central High school, said “Netlix’s Originals was the main thing that separated them from other platforms and made them good. Them adding ads will take away its only “original” thing they do if they add ads then it’s useless.”