Credit to Austin Griffin

Companies like Netflix have put a limit on password sharing due to security risks and other factors.

Disney+ has started to take precautions to address the issue of password sharing. Password sharing on most streaming platforms has allowed account sharing on different devices and locations, but Disney+ and other platforms have started to believe it’s an issue and can lead to abuse. For instance, Netflix password crackdown policy tracks your data and stops you or others from watching in any other state you don’t live in.

Password sharing is when you give friends, family, etc. your password to your account. Disney+ and Netflix don’t allow password sharing because they believe it can cause problems with cyber security and scams. With streaming companies implementing this new policy, some users have voiced their dissatisfaction online with the increased security and restrictions. Most users have been sharing their passwords for years but may feel disappointed when the feature becomes unavailable.

Many platforms have started this policy because password sharing can be risky in several ways. For instance, sharing your passwords may make it easier for hackers to hack into your network and steal valuable information. Password sharing can also cause a loss of your account because of security issues. Sharing your password can lead to risky situations, however password sharing can also be beneficial in some ways. Sharing passwords makes it easier to access shared accounts and not deal with the hassle of repeated logins. Sharing a subscription on streaming platforms could save money for consumers, however, sharing your subscriptions is losing companies money and that’s their main problem with password sharing.

Despite the pros and cons of sharing passwords, streaming platform’s “Password Crackdown” has been successful. Netflix has gained around 23 percent of new accounts since they added their new policy. Following Netflix, Disney+ also implemented their password crackdown on Nov 1. Seeing how successful Netflix’s policy has been, other streaming platforms may follow as well, so be on the lookout.