The long-awaited day has arrived. Netflix has just announced the end of free shared accounts. Netflix has about 223 million users, but according to its own statistics, 100 million are shared accounts, which do not pay a fee. In Spain, the percentage is higher, about 60%, according to a recent survey by OCU.
The streaming platform wants to end this practice, which it itself fostered a few years ago, when times were different. These are the new rules. Subscribing users, or those who pay for the account, will now be required to specify their primary residence.
Netflix does not explain how this is done in the press release, but as leaked a few days ago in the controversial FAQ that was later removed, it may be done through an IP address, location, or WiFi network. People who live in the main home can share the account as before, as several profiles can be created and multiple devices can be used; that does not change.
Subscribers can take their travel devices and use their account on a hotel or vacation home television, although they do not clarify if there is a maximum number of days away from home.
From now on, all shared accounts outside of the home are prohibited. As we said, Netflix has not explained how it will verify that an account used outside the home is from a traveling member or from a friend or family member with whom you share. Nothing is said about the obligation to connect from the main home once a month, as leaked a few days ago.