Netflix Restricts Password Sharing in UAE; Residents Plan to Downgrade Package and Switch Platforms

Highlights

1. Netflix Restricts Password Sharing in UAE, requiring users to confirm their primary devices to prevent sharing among different households.
2. Many UAE residents who were sharing accounts with family members anticipate the ban to take effect soon, leading to considerations of switching streaming platforms or downgrading their plans.
3. The streaming giant clarifies that accounts are intended for sharing within a single household, prompting users living in separate households to sign up for individual accounts.
4. Some residents express hesitancy in opening separate accounts due to limited content selection for specific age groups, especially children.
5. The lack of age-appropriate content on Netflix prompts users to explore other platforms like Disney+.
6. Netflix offers an option to add additional members to an account for an extra fee, but this service is currently not available in the UAE.
7. Users, like primary account holder Areeb Siddiqui, express concerns about travel and international usage limiting simultaneous access to the same account, leading to considerations of downgrading account tiers.
8. Netflix’s ability to detect and restrict password-sharing using WiFi networks and IP addresses is revealed.
9. The UAE residents’ reactions to Netflix’s password-sharing restriction indicate a shift in subscription choices and a search for platforms that better suit their preferences and needs.

Netflix’s recent crackdown on password sharing has triggered reactions among UAE residents, with many considering switching streaming platforms or downgrading their plans. The streaming giant’s new policy, which launched in the UAE over the weekend, requires users to confirm their primary devices to curb password-sharing practices.

South African expat Sarah Tiry, who shares a Netflix account with her sisters in Cape Town, anticipates the ban to take effect in her household soon. While considering her options, Sarah doubts she will subscribe to Netflix individually, as she feels she doesn’t use it enough to warrant a personal subscription.

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Netflix’s clarification on their website states that an account is meant to be shared only by people living in the same household. Those living in different households are expected to have their own separate accounts.

Some residents are hesitant to open individual accounts due to the limited content selection for certain age groups. For example, Sarah’s preteen son finds little interesting content on Netflix and prefers YouTube or Disney+. This lack of age-appropriate content has prompted Sarah to consider signing up for Disney+ instead.

While Netflix offers an option to add an extra member to an account for an additional fee, this service is currently unavailable in the UAE.

Dubai resident Areeb Siddiqui, the primary account holder, is adopting a wait-and-watch approach to the situation. He is concerned that frequent travel for work and his family’s international presence might restrict simultaneous viewing on the same account. In response, Areeb is contemplating downgrading his Premium account to the basic level.

Earlier, Netflix revealed its ability to detect and restrict password-sharing by monitoring WiFi networks and IP addresses of devices on its platform.

As the effects of Netflix’s password-sharing restriction continue to unfold in the UAE, many users are reevaluating their subscription choices and exploring alternative streaming platforms that cater to their needs and preferences.