We've all got that one pal who valiantly fronts the Netflix bill for everyone else. In some cases, it's even an estranged friend's dad, or an ex you don't even speak to any more - but you can bet you've got their password autosaved so you can carry on binging your favourite programmes without paying.
Well, not for much longer.
Because now the streaming service is hoping to clamp down on users who password-share, spelling what could be devastating news for leeches everywhere.
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Speaking at Netflix's Q3 2019 earnings interview last week, chief product officer Greg Peters said that Netflix hopes to tackle password sharing head on.
He said: "We continue to monitor it so we're looking at the situation. We'll see those consumer-friendly ways to push on the edges of that."
It comes after a study found that the average Netflix account has five people using it, with just one picking up the bill.
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Research carried out by MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk discovered the high number of 'Netflix leeches', with more than two thirds claiming they have no intentions of ever getting their own account.
What's more, nine in ten of those sponging off someone else's account admit they could afford their own subscription.
As part of the study, all respondents were asked: "Do you have access to an online streaming account?" - this includes Netflix, Amazon Prime, Now TV etc. - with 77 per cent of respondents saying they do have access to an account, but only one in five (22 per cent) revealed it was their own.
Respondents who explained they had their own account were then asked how many people used it, with the average amount of users-to-account being one to five.
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Shockingly, the participants who do have their own account and had other people using it were asked whether these peers contribute towards the fee with eight in ten (81 per cent) revealing that they do not.
Just how Netflix plan to weed out those who are using someone else's password is yet to be revealed, however, the company added they're keen to do it "without alienating a certain portion of [its] user base".
However, you have a little more time to rinse your pals, as the company don't yet have any "big plans," to announce on the matter.
And it's a good thing too, as the service recently hiked its prices up for UK subscription packages, with standard plan for both new and existing customers increasing by £1 up to £8.99, while the premium account is to raise by £2 up to £11.99.
Password sharing is nothing new - but it is currently something the technology industry is trying to clamp down on.
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Tech firm Synamedia recently unveiled a new AI system which says it can be used to crack down on account sharing.
It works by using machine learning to spot shared passwords on streaming sites, and subsequently offers services the option to choose how to deal with culprits.
Possible consequences include forcing perpetrators to upgrade to a premium service or even shutting down their account.
Yikes.
Better start saving for a Netflix budget before it's too late...
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash