Netflix's crackdown on password sharing is not as effective as people have find ways to skip paying and continue using the video streaming platform. Here is how Netflix is tracking if you are using your household or friend's account, and how people are skipping to pay.
Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing is not as effective, users find ways to skip paying
It seems that Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing is not as effective as people have find ways to skip paying and continue using the popular video streaming platform. Many users are not able to use their own account even after paying for it because they are either travelling or living at some other place for months. Here is how Netflix is tracking if you are using your household or friend’s account, and how people are skipping to pay.
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Netflix’s initiative to end password sharing for freeloaders
People who are travelling or have shifted to a different place are getting a message from the platform, which says “This TV isn’t part of your Netflix Household. Create an account to enjoy using your own Netflix today.”
The platform is apparently sending a different message to users and not displaying the same notice to everyone. Some are also getting a notice saying, “A Netflix account is for people who live in the same location. Everyone who lives at your primary location can use Netflix when they are on the go or travelling. If this is your account, we will help you set your primary location on the next screen.”
Those who are genuinely using their household Netflix account at a different place are pretty disappointed by the fact that they will now get such messages. But, even those who are using a friend’s Netflix account have found their own ways to skip paying.
How is Netflix tracking if you are using your household or friend’s account?
Netflix automatically analyses your location through a combination of your logged IP addresses, logged devices IDs, and account activity. It adds a primary location to every account. So, if you are using a Netflix account that is registered with your home’s location, then your device should be connected from your household location at least once a month to continue using Netflix, even if you shift to some other place or travelling. If you take longer than that, you will have to pay up. If you are using a friend’s account, then you might be asked to create an account or update home location or say I’m travelling.
What is Primary Location?
A primary location is the main place where you watch Netflix, and is associated with your home Wi-Fi network and the devices connected to it.
Netflix users find ways to use account of others for free
So, if you have shifted to some place or travelling somewhere, you need to tell Netflix that you are not using a friend’s account and that this is your household Netflix account and for this, people have found ways to continue using Netflix without paying for it. The tips also work for those who are far away from their homes and are not able to use their household Netflix account.
-Users are choosing I’m travelling option when the company sends a notice of “this is not your account.” In this option, they are just required to verify their account via the registered email or mobile number. Once done, a user is able to use the account. But, verification might be done every month because if you are too far away from the Netflix account’s owner and won’t be able to connect to its Wi-Fi network at home, then you will likely have to keep verifying your identity.
-One could also choose the update Netflix household to skip creating a new account and paying for it.
-People who have a Netflix account can also create a server from their house and host it there and use it like VPN at any other location to show the platform that you are at the same household location and not at any other place. With services like Tailscale (free of cost), one will be able to create their own VPN network, add different devices to the network and make Netflix think that all the units are using the account from same location.
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There are videos on YouTube that explain how you can create this network.
Should Indians worry about Netflix's latest initiative to end password sharing?
As of now, Netflix hasn't yet expanded the initiative to India, but this will happen one day and we might witness this soon. Netflix has already confirmed that it will gradually push out the update to different regions. It is worth highlighting that India is one of the key markets for the platform and many are using friend's account to skip paying for the subscription.
The video streaming platform just recently expanded its latest initiative in the US and people on Twitter are saying that they will simply cancel their Netflix subscription. Some have found ways to skip paying and so, they are tweeting about it on Twitter.
Published By:
Ankita Garg
Published On:
Jun 5, 2023
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