In the Netflix’s latest earnings presentationwhich also announced that founder Reed Hastings was stepping down, The company maintained that the monetization of shared accounts would arrive in the first quarter of 2023. This is an important part of the strategy in the face of the crisis that the streaming sector is going through since it is estimated that more than 100 million households share an account with people who do not live together. And that translates into a lot of money that they are missing out on, which they say “undermines the long-term ability to invest and improve.”
The idea, that It has already been put into practice in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru, is to charge an extra fee to connect to a television outside the home, and it has already become clear that for Netflix, the home is not made by people, but by location. Therefore, from now on, Netflix will look at the IP address, devices used and account activity to find out if it is being used outside its usual location. To do this, a series of checks will be carried out that have been detailed in the frequently asked questions section of its website and they are the following.
Users will need to frequently connect to home WiFi and open Netflix, either on the web or in the app on mobile devices. In fact, must connect at least once every 31 days, and if not done, the account will be blocked that does not meet this requirement.
Also, when signing in from a device outside the home and if that device is used frequently, the owner will be asked to verify it in order to watch Netflix. For it a link will be sent by phone or email to the holder that leads to a page with a four-digit verification code to be entered into the device trying to connect within 15 minutes. If the code expires, you will have to request it again. This verification can be repeated periodically. From Netflix it is also recommended to reset the password if it is suspected that it is used without authorization.
The service it can continue to be used in case of travel or second residences, as long as the right holders or people are using it and verification will not be required. But if the stay away from home is going to be prolonged, verification of the account (described above) may be requested to confirm that the device from which it is being used has authorization.
To avoid all these discomforts, heThe company recommends that non-residents use their own account and explains the variety of plans available to them, including a cheaper option in exchange for advertising. In addition, the company provides transferring user profiles from one account to another without losing history. These instructions also state that “Netflix will not automatically charge you if the account is shared with someone who does not live in your home.”
