Netflix restricts shared accounts in Spain and sets a price for secondary accounts away from home

After months of rumors, speculations and tests in Latin America, it’s official: Netflix restricts the use of shared accounts on its platform in Spain, implementing the new system, through which, users of the streaming service will be able to share their accounts only with other people outside the home by paying an extra monthly fee.

Netflix made the official announcement on its social networks on the night of Wednesday, February 8, sharing a statement on the company’s blog detailing the new plan, which goes into effect immediately. The new system was also launched in Portugal, New Zealand and Canada. Netflix accompanied the announcement on the networks with this message: “We know there’s a lot of confusion out there about how to share Netflix. Since every account is meant for a family, starting today you’ll see new features that will give you better control over your account. And you’ll be able to keep watching Netflix when you’re on the go.”.

Under the new plan, subscribers will need to set their primary account location by connecting from their primary IP address. From the statement, Netflix promises “help subscribers set it up, so everyone in your family can use their own Netflix account”. To do this, an access and device management section is enabled where subscribers can control who accesses their account, which according to Netflix is ​​their “main goal”.

What about profiles created by sharing a password outside the main house? Netflix offers this solution: “Now anyone using one account can move their profile to their paid account, keeping their personalized recommendations, viewing their history, My List, their saved games and much more”. In other words, If you don’t want to lose the profile you have in the account of your brother, friend, work colleague, etc., it must be paid, otherwise you will not be able to use it.

From now on, to add extra subscribers to your account, you will have to pay. Sub-accounts can be added to the accounts subscribed with the Standard or Premium plans for people who do not live at the address established as the main office. Each of these sub-accounts will have their own profile with personalized recommendations, and their own username and password it will cost €5.99 per month per person in Spain. But be careful, there is a limit: You can only create a maximum of two sub accounts.

As for using Netflix while traveling, the company makes that clear “As always, members will be able to watch Netflix on their personal devices or log in on another TV (for example, in a hotel or vacation rental)”. In addition to the new conditions, Netflix has released an updated table with the benefits of its plans.

Netflix’s explanation

Netflix wanted to justify its controversial decision, arguing that shared passwords are an impediment to the creation of its content. “We’ve always made it easy for people living under the same roof to share their Netflix account with features like profiles and multi-screen viewing”can be read in the statement. “While they’ve been hugely successful, they’ve also caused some confusion about when and how to share Netflix. Now, there are over 100 million households sharing their accounts, reducing our ability to invest in creating great storiestold with series and films of the highest quality”.

The new measure has received a negative reception on social networks, where users of the platform are criticizing Netflix’s decision and announcing that they will unsubscribe en masse and/or switch to other platforms, especially after suspicions that they have caused the usual cancellations of his series after just one season. They anticipate criticism and promise to listen to their users: “We value our members and understand that they have many entertainment options at their disposal. Each Netflix account is designed for a single household and members can choose from multiple plans with different features”. And they end like this: “As always, we’ll be refining these new features based on feedback from our members to keep making Netflix better for years to come.”.