[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'Netflix needs to make careful decisions'

Netflix plans to double down on account sharing. The company currently struggles as its number of new members and its share prices are both on the decline.

Purchasing a premium membership for 17,000 won ($13) a month allows a maximum of four people to use one account simultaneously.

The plan is meant for members of the same household only, but users often share accounts with their friends or even strangers to save on the monthly fees.

Netflix turned a blind eye to this practice to prevent customers from leaving.

However, it will soon put its foot down to stop the unintended sharing of accounts.

Netflix stated in a shareholder letter that “although our content is popular worldwide, we have met a headwind due to account sharing.”

The company aims to place stricter policies on account sharing worldwide. The restrictions have already been in effect since March in some countries, including Peru, Chile and Costa Rica.

In the countries concerned, two or three dollars are charged additionally to the people who aren’t housemates sharing an account.

#all_the_more_reason_to_cancel
“Shared membership is the only reason I keep paying for my account. The restriction means there’ll be no reason left for me to keep the membership. Netflix needs to make careful decisions.”
“I kept my pricey membership because of the account sharing. Now there’s no reason to keep it.”

#not_even_family_can_share?
“I keep my membership because of my friends who share the account, even though I want to cancel it.”
“Do they think that everyone who shares the account split the bill with strangers? People who get the priciest membership and share it with families who live apart keep the membership for others, even though they don’t need it themselves. The new policy will leave them no reason to keep the account.”

#whiplash_from_policy_changes
“They shouldn’t have promoted the share feature in the first place. Talk about inconsistency. What a way to run a business.”
“What kind of a service policy is this? I’m getting whiplash. It’s not like there are no alternatives, either.”

BY LEE SI-YEOUNG, YOO JI-WOO [yoo.jiwoo@joongang.co.kr]