Netflix's Five-Year-Old Tweet Comes Back To Haunt It Amid Account Sharing Crackdown

Netflix is facing intense backlash for its upcoming plans to crack down on password sharing after a tweet it wrote five years ago resurfaced.

Sharing is caring. Or so we're told. Netflix used to think so too, despite now contradicting an earlier statement by announcing controversial plans to crack down on users who share their password.

While most users don't need to worry about the stricter measures just yet, the streaming giant has been attacked even more since a tweet it wrote five years ago has come to light.

In a tweet dating back to 10 March, 2017, Netflix posted: "Love is an addiction."

Following on in the thread, it then wrote: "Love is sharing a password."

Words the streaming platform is now likely to seriously regret.

Users have since leapt on the tweet, attacking the platform for its change of heart.

One user noted how expensive the platform is already, without adding an additional charge for users outside of one's household.

"Love is… being the most expensive service, canceling loved shows without warning, and then complaining people share passwords. Who are you blaming later?" they said.

Another wrote: "Ya I’m tired of corporate greed I gotta get a vpn and get on that pirating grind."

A user echoed similar thoughts. "Why not just go straight to piracy spend the money you use for Netflix on a good vpn for piracy and privacy."

However, one user stuck up for the company's change of heart, commenting: "Love is not being a freeloader lol I’m glad to see Netflix has realized just how stupid and naive this was. Sure you’ll grow a lot early on, but as you mature, you realize your missing out on 100m potential users because of password sharing. Netflix already knows who’s who."

Although another reflected: "Let me guess, the crackdown on password sharing is for 'our protection'? Or just tell the truth. "We made some really bad content decisions and our audience has been tailing off."

Netflix's terms and conditions already state that accounts 'may not be shared with individuals beyond your household,' however that hasn't stopped people from hanging onto their ex's password in order to catch the latest season of Bridgerton or binge-watch some Selling Sunset.

The new measure will initially be trialled in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru, with account holders given the option of adding a 'sub-account' for mates or family who live outside of their household.

The 'sub-accounts' will cost an additional $2.99 per account.

While Netflix may have previously thought that 'love is sharing a password,' its $50 billion loss in under 24 hours as a result of 200,000 subscribers leaving has certainly impacted its generosity.

UNILAD contacted Netflix and they provided no further comment in relation to the tweet.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]  

Topics: Netflix, Film and TV, Entertainment

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.