Netflix's crackdown on password sharing has finally begun around the world, and it's being called rather an "innovation." Or at least that's how the streaming giant classifies the news in a blog post shared today (May 23) on its About page.

In a post titled "Update on Sharing" posted for the US, UK, and Australian markets, Netflix reiterated its anti-sharing stance that "Netflix accounts are to be used by one household. It then clarified that account sharing will cost $8/£4.99/ AUD$7.99 per additional household. This follows months of testing in some markets, including Canada, where it was C$7.99 per additional household (about $6).

Netflix's post includes a letter it plans to send to customers who are breaking this new rule. The email begins by reiterating that Netflix accounts will only be shared with "people you live with" in "your household" and that you can continue to use Netflix "on your personal devices or on the TV in your hotel or vacation home" when you are "away or traveling."

He then explains that you will be able to revoke per-device access on your own account and offers two options for those who share an account: migrate your Netflix profile and start a new account with your profile or pay a monthly fee of $7.99 dollars/£4.99/$7.99 Australian dollars to purchase an additional member.

Thus, it appears that the price for additional households will be the same regardless of which plan you subscribe to. Details previously shared by Netflix indicate that only Standard ($15.49/£10.99/$16.99 AUD/month) and Premium ($19.99/£15.99/$22.99 AUD/month) customers will have this option, which is ad more expensive than the basic subscription with ads.

In an attempt to defend this action, Netflix states that it is "investing heavily in a wide variety of new movies and TV shows."

As competition intensifies, Netflix is seeing one rival after another, each adding subscribers. Some Netflix executives look at customers who can buy things like Peacock (starting at $5/month) and say, "Wait, we should get that money.

They are angry; Netflix expects a rebound, there will be churn, but profits are up.

I'm trying to figure out what I can do. Well, the best VPNs can do a lot, but they can't make it look like your streaming device is within a particular household. That means that people who share an account can do one of four things:

Steal another way: Tom's Guide does not endorse piracy, but minutes after sharing this news with a friend, I immediately heard how easy it is to pirate original Netflix productions on the Internet I immediately heard how easy it is to pirate Netflix originals on the Internet. Clearly, Netflix's digital rights management (DRM) is not as strong as the company would like it to be.

Let's pay up: At $8 in the U.S., the fee to share your password with additional users is $1 more than the monthly fee for Apple TV Plus and cheaper than buying a second standard or premium account. As a friend told me, "I have no choice, my kids love Netflix."

Cancel Netflix: I do this all the time. The industry calls it "canceling."

Split the account: some people who share an account may have unbalanced usage, with one not using Netflix as much as the other. They split the bill and it is worth it. U.S. subscribers who receive an ultimatum will consider a bill of about $11.73 or $23.99 per 1/2 (not less if split among more households). If that is too much, the Netflix-oriented side might decide to move their profile out and let the other side delete theirs.

For all those who do not view Netflix as equivalent to water or other utility bills, this password sharing war will make them consider cancelling. Stay tuned to Tom's Guide to see if Netflix's June 2023 lineup is worth the extra money.

Netflix probably doesn't believe in love anymore. Unless you're blind and the live stream doesn't air on time.